#az writes

Yeah, you had a clue that maybe you should be concerned when you spotted Invincible shifting rubble. But it’s been a few weeks since the Invincible War, and he’s been to plenty of cities, not just this one. Tends to flit between the worst effected.

So it was no major warning sign, just a catch at your attention as you worked with the small crew you’d been assigned to. With the world how it is, any work you can get was gratefully taken. And not many have the stomach for uncovering and clearing bodies, despite how good the pay is. Means you also get a roof over your head, instead of the refugee shelter, and-

Should’ve stayed in the damn shelter, huh.

Okay. Chances of dying? Sky high. Could run, but they’ll be levelling the city soon. Big ka-boom.

You don’t have powers, because fuck you that’s why, and there’s no handy dandy helicopter to hop a ride on. You also can’t pilot a helicopter, but that’s besides the point.

Invincible is straightening up, and you vaguely hear Conquest’s dissatisfaction with the lack of, y’know, his namesake. A few of the workers are backing off as they realise something’s up, and one lady tugs at your arm. They don’t know there’s no point in moving. They don’t know you’re all about to die.

Shit.

Alright, then. Hail Mary, full of fucking grace.

“I am Conquest, and I am your last chance of-”

“Did you say your name is Conquest?” you call out, jogging over. “The Conquest?”

Wow, dude is huge. Not helped by the hover he’s rocking, but that is one big beefy guy.

The gauntlet is a duller kind of metal than you thought it’d be, looks solid enough to casually shatter a building just by being dropped on it. The eye that turns to you is - and you hate to be cliche, but c’mon - screaming hardened killer, your sole hope in the faintest hint of bemusement in his expression.

“You’ve heard of me?”

“Of course I have.” You slow and hold a hand over heart to express utmost sincerity. Which you’re capable of. On a good day, probably. “Big fan. Biggest fan, in fact. I wish I could say I’ve followed your career since day one, but I wasn’t so lucky to be born at the start of your meteoric rise-”

“Are you-” Invincible cuts himself off, shifting so he’s partially in front of you and keeping a wary eye on Conquest. “You need to get out of here. You’re in danger.”

You glare at him. “I know, dude.” Yanking a smile back on, you look up at Conquest again. “It’s an honour to have our planet visited by such a legend. I assume you’re here for the takeover? This guy, uh-”

You step forward and pat Invincible’s back. Hard. For a human; this fucker can probably barely feel it. “As you can see, he’s been hard at work. Look how destroyed this city is! So many dead bodies. Ask anyone, and they’ll confirm Invincible is responsible. But it’s a work in progress. It’s his first time - he isn’t experienced like you, y’know? So, could we get an extension?”

Conquest is looking at you like you’re a very odd insect he’s never encountered before. Not great for gauging success, but you have absolutely nothing to lose at this stage.

“I’d also love to pick your brains, if you have a minute,” you add with- okay, maybe a bit more genuine curiosity, come the fuck on. “I know you must be a busy guy, high demand and all, but I have so many questions.”

“Such as?”

Wait, he’s humouring you? Oh. Cool. You drop your hand from Invincible’s tense back and step past him, wishing you had a notepad.

“Okay, what’s the coolest thing you’ve ever fought? And I don’t just mean the toughest battle. What actually shocked you, across all those planets? And who made your gauntlet? What’s it made of? Do you ever get that phantom limb sense, or are you used to it by now? What was it like growing up on Viltrum? Did you have siblings-”

“Enough,” he says, but he doesn’t look pissed as he lowers down until his feet are on the ground. Gooood sign? Like, he’s totally looming over you, but you yet live. Huzzah. “You’re human?”

“As far as I know.”

He hums, then looks over the top of your head at Invincible. You idly hope you’re not about to have something in common with another Robin in a superhero universe. The temptation to go directly for a good fight is pretty fucking obvious.

Ah, fuck it. Go big or go home.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, but no one ever mentioned how lovely your voice is,” you say, and his attention snaps back to you so fast it’s kind of hilarious. “Or how handsome you are. That scar really distinguishes you, I’ve gotta say, and that eye colour…I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Seriously, though. It’s a cool colour. Legit looks gold, and especially noticeably with the wide, startled look.

“What…What are you attempting to-”

You wince. “Was that too forward? Sorry, sorry. I’m a little overwhelmed, is all. Getting to meet the Conquest is very exciting. You must get this constantly, after all the amazing work you’ve done for the Empire. I’ll stop.”

“No.” He pauses, as if he didn’t fully mean to say that. But then he continues, “If there’s…no need for a correction here, I have the time to speak with you.”

…That worked?

Holy shit, that worked.

Wait. He’ll actually answer your questions? Awesome.

“Then I’ll make the most of it. How long do you have? Because I have a lot of questions, and I’m pretty sure I’ll come up with more- Hey, do you mind if we go somewhere we can sit down? I’m not a badass warrior like you; being on my feet all day is killer-”

-

“…What the fuck just happened?”

“No way.”

You grimaced slightly, shrugging. “Thought you hated me. It took Phee talking to me to realize maybe I should give it a go.”

He tightened his grip on your hand with a soft smile and pulled you into him, wrapping his arm around your shoulders when you knocked into his chest. “Bullshit.”

Leading you out the door, he motioned towards his little red sports car with the hand that rested on your shoulder, humming when you said his name.

You swallowed harshly, bracing yourself for his answer by staring at the concrete sidewalk as the two of you stopped walking. “Is this just gonna be— um— just the rule?” You sighed, meeting his eyes reluctantly as your fingers messed with your skirt.

He pulled back, placing both hands on your shoulders and shaking you lightly. “No! What the fuck?” He laughed loudly. “I’ve been trying to date you for months. All of the ‘you’re so interested in my personal life, I figured you’d have tried to figure it out firsthand’ meant what to you?”

You laughed incredulously, clapping your hands on his shoulders and shaking him right back. “I thought you were calling me a stalker.”

“No way.”

“Yes way. You are a terrible communicator.”

He huffed slightly and shrugged in acknowledgement as he wrapped an arm around you and started walking again. “Maybe so. But now I’m your terrible communicator, if you’ll have me.”

You looked up at him with a hum, watching as his pretty green eyes flicked down to you. “Well that depends on tonight, doesn’t it?”

“Oh, darlin’, that’s gonna be a yes.” His words shot heat through your lower belly, making you sigh heavily through your nose.

As you slipped into his coupe, he smacked your ass lightly, your breathing speeding up as you yelped. A few seconds later, he was sliding into the driver’s seat and shifting into drive. “My house alright?”

“Yeah,” you whispered, thighs grinding together subconsciously as you crossed them in the narrow passenger seat. Ever observant, Jake’s gaze flicked over to where they clenched before moving up to where his hat sat on your head.

His right hand dropped from the wheel to your upper leg, where his thumb picked up a languorous pace tracing circles. You whimpered quietly, wishing his hand would move up just a bit more. “Please, Jake.”

A smile crossed his lips, his hand moving up to the place your thighs met as he stopped for a light. “Since you asked so nicely,” he rubbed lightly along the seam of your pussy with one finger, the wetness seeping through your thin underwear slightly. You whined loudly, hips canting up towards his hand. “You’re so vocal, so good for me. That feel good?”

You nodded feverishly, and panted as you pleaded silently for more.

“You want something else, pretty girl?” His eyes returned to the road as the light flipped to green, that finger still painstakingly tracing you.

“Please, your fingers.”

He groaned, “Oh, good girl, of course.” Pulling your panties to the side, he slipped two fingers into you and you cried out, pushing against them. His knuckles were just barely brushing your clit, but it was so sensitive that it felt like heaven. Still, it wasn’t enough.

Just as you moaned loudly, about to ask for him to move, he took a sharp turn into a small gravel road that you soon recognized to be a driveway and pulled his fingers out of you, much to your dismay. Meeting your eyes as he stopped the car, he popped the fingers soaked in you into his mouth and moaned, making a show of licking them clean. You were, however, fairly confident that his hips lifting up off the seat was no act, because when he removed his now spit-covered fingers from his mouth, he was panting like a dog.

You reached for your door, eager to reach the bedroom and about to make a mad dash for the house, but he yelped your name and scrambled out of his own door, regardless of the uncomfortable bulge in his pants. When he circled the front to pull open your door and offer you a hand, you felt your heart twist. Hopping out of the car, you grabbed him by the jaw and kissed him, twisting your hands into his hair and moaning when he did. Your lips pressed tightly against his, tongues slipping against one another as you ground your torso against the hardness you felt on him.

As he broke away, you followed him, but he only allowed you two more kisses before whining, “We have to go inside, there are kids in the neighborhood.” With a nod, you let him tug you up the short set of stairs to his doorway, watched him fumble with his keys in his urgency, and finally unlock his knob and deadbolt, before he shoved the door open and let you go in first. As soon as you were in, he threw his lips against yours again, lips open and sloppy. Your upper lip pressed against his teeth as you lightly nibbled on his lower lip. He moaned against you, louder than ever, and you took note. Dropping your lips to his throat, you bit lightly on his Adam’s apple, feeling his chest heave under your palms, before yanking his shirt off to gain access to his chest.

His chest was broad and tan, and you hummed quietly as you set your lips back to his pecs, sucking a mark into the left one to hear him whimper before moving to the right, savoring his noises. After a few more marks, he pulled you up to his lips and walked you backwards towards what you knew to be his bedroom. When you reached it, he pulled off your shirt and you kicked off your shoes and unzipped your skirt to shimmy out of it before raising your arms for him. Left in your bra and panties, you gestured for him to take off his boots before unzipping his pants, stroking lightly across the outline of him before pulling his pants the whole way down.

When you’d landed on your knees in front of him, you looked up at his red face with a smile, knowing your next move. You pulled down his boxers with a moan, struck by the sight and sound of his cock slapping against his stomach: long, thick, and red, with the veins popping out and probably aching. He hissed, hand landing in your hair.

“You don’t have to...” he began, before you laid your hand on him and your lips on his head. His abdomen clenched up like he’d been gut-punched and he whined desperately, “Oh, holy fuck.”

You suckled at the red tip, hand stroking over the entire length as you started to take more of him into your mouth. His hand clenched tighter, pulling at the roots of your hair. You moaned, hand drawing up to touch his balls, running your fingers across them harder when he made a loud punched-out noise above you.

Pulling you off and up by your hair, he murmured praises: “You’re so good at that," and “Almost had me done for in under a minute, dammit.”

Swallowing down some air, you turned him so his back was facing the bed and shoved his chest lightly. “I believe I still owe you a ride?”

Nodding eagerly, he dropped onto the bed and gestured to the wall, where a mirror hung facing the bed. “Gonna sit up though, I wanna see you get split open.”

To that, you straddled his lap with a low groan and met his eyes while you positioned him at your entrance. “Ready?”

“God, yes.”

Smiling, you moved down slowly, but were quickly met with a soft tinge of pain. You groaned, burying your face in his shoulder as he pet your hair and tried to control his breathing. The pain quickly turned into a pleasurable throb and you clenched down around him, making him moan loudly. Finally, you began to bounce. His hands grasped your asscheeks and spread them, massaging lightly and rubbing his finger against where the two of you met while he groaned your name.

“God, Raptor. Callsign shoulda been fuckin’ Bunny. Look so good hopping up and down.”

Giggling, you bounced faster, wailing when he reached a hand around to rub at your clit. You felt yourself clench around him, spurring his hips to kick up into you and hit your g-spot. Ripping your face from his shoulder and burying your hands in his hair, you demanded, “Do it again.” Smirking, he placed a hand behind him on the bed, the other rubbing harder against your clit, and started to thrust up into you consistently. He kept hitting your spot, loud cries leaving your mouth in time with his grunts and groans, until finally, the dam burst. His finger pushed against you perfectly just as he thrust in and you collapsed on top of him, arms crossed on his chest as you convulsed, walls clamping down on him as he continued to push into you.

You distantly felt him slip out of you, moving above you, your arms now resting on the bed. As he slipped back in, your walls continued to flutter, one orgasm starting into the next. “Oh, fuck, Jake!” You cried, his hand slipping into your hair and tugging you up against his chest.

“Again, baby. Gimme one more,” he panted, driving into you and pulling you back, his other hand rubbing at your sore clit again.

You felt the tightness ratchet up, up, up, before it hit you again, quicker than it ever had before. “Oh, shit!” Your body fell forward again as his hips stuttered, your pulsing walls making him let go. He pushed into you one final time with a loud whine, cum leaking out around his cock, and rubbed along your clit until every last pulse was finished.

He collapsed behind you and stayed like that for a while, asking if you needed to get up and pee after about five minutes, to which you groaned sadly and hummed a yes. Once you’d returned, washcloth in hand, he was nearly asleep.

While you cleaned him, he whined quietly and almost got hard again, but you ended in time and tossed the washcloth down, sliding under the covers and making grabby hands to make him join you. Tired, content, and happy, he wrapped himself around you and the two of you drifted off to sleep.

Jim craned his neck, feeling the little one swishing by, "Runnin' like the Devil," Jimmy commented.

Copia looked towards the table his daughter was pointing to, "*Tsk, aohh, look love" Copia pointed with a nod, clearly worried. Jim caught the direction of attention and saw a small pair of feet, laces undone as usual, awkwardly fidgeting, over and over hiding under the edge of the long hanging tablecloth.

"Ah shit-" Jim winced. "Did he have his headpho-"

"I thought he did?" Copia wondered, eyes scanning Jim's face, the both of them trying to recall everything with the whole reception going on around them. They parted through a few guests to get to the table.

Milagro came up to the Groom and Groom, her daughter on her hip. Charlotte was in tears pouting, suddenly refusing to vocalize her crying now that there was more people than mama around.

And like her mama she was not fond of crying or letting anyone except her most trusted see it...

But also...

Sweet girl she knew her brother needed extra attention.

She was tying to not call it to herself.

Gentle soul.

*Exactly the one Jimmy had given up his Life Eternal for. And now that He and Copia had moved past that tumultuous part of their lives- they were free now. The valley was safe, and their children were everything. And Copia would not be alone forever as they had thought when it was Jim's time to go, he had their children to love and hold and probably spoil, for as long as they'd let him...*

"Charlie said one of the older kids and his friends were over here beaing mean and took Ari's headphones." Milagro said, clearly trying to keep her temper in check. She had a love and patience for children, but well, she loved hers more feircely, of course..

Charlotte turned away, laying her head on her mother's soft pink dress, staining it with her hot tears that kept comming anyway.

Jim made that wincing face again.

"They took his headpho- aw mannn!" Jim sighed, a stressed grunt exiting his lungs. He peeled off his suit jacket to have it out of the way as he squatted on the floor, gently lifting thr frocks of the table cloth. The little unlaced shoes retreated farther into the darkness under the table, backing into the hidey-hole. Jim made a sympathetic face and looked to Copia.

Copia looked about as red as ruddy rouge Cardinal, livid ,but before he could speak, Milagro gave Copia "The Look". He needed to calm himself down. Blowing up now, in front of everyone, was not good. In front of the kiddos, even worse.

In front of Millie, and Jim? He might as well go dig a hole and lie in it...

Copia pinched the bridge of his nose and felt that champagne headache surge. He had a wild bachelor party WITH Jim the night prior and still felt the ache behind his eyes... Except now it was mostly from Copia trying not to freak out and absolutely tear into those little Runts that made his children cry, oh how he wanted to give those little shits something to really cry about! Scream at them even, for that and for stealing the headphones from his kiddo whom they frightened into hiding under a table. He could almost see it, eyes dark and wild and fangs dropped, Copia knew he would have looked and behaved beastly to everyone, probably would have scared his own children too...

*But his deamons wilted as he took a slow breath and looked around him. Trying to take in the moment, right here. Right now. And find love in it...*

Charlie had been brave to go to a safe grownup. That was wonderful. They did good as her parents in that regard.

And her Mama was being rather calm about the whole thing. Charlotte almost looked like she felt anger and shame at crying in front of Milagro,who looked the same, clearly upset by the whole situation. Copia didn't know where such shame had been taught to his daughter or his woman and it made his heart ache...

Milagro, bless her, soothing her daughter and cradling her blond head under her chin assuring her, validating her, letting her know it's alright to feel upset, that Charlie did so good trying to take care of her twin brother.

It was touching...

Copia was thankful beyond words for the woman who had brought his children into the world, and had stayed by his side since before and after. She was here, supporting him and Jim, and loving their children they way a parent should. And it was a beautiful thing.

Copia never thought he would have this. And there was so much more work to be done. But at least he was watching, *family* happen around him. Real family. Found family. Years of history between everyone and at this time, here and now, even amidst the stress and worry for his other child, Copia felt something warm bloom in his heart. Approaching Milagro he held out his hands, with two little grabby motions .

"Topellina, do you want to come with Papa?" Copia cooed, to which Charlotte sort of leaned over her mother's arm to reach out for him.

Milagro deposited their daughter in Copia's arms and the little one buried her face in his lace and frills at his neck, letting another wave of tears soak through.

Copia swayed gently, shushing her, a hand caressing her back gently. Charlotte relaxed in his arms and her little fingers twirled a peice of fabric between them, bringing it to her nose, rubbing it softly.

Milagro shared a half smile with Copia- seems she inherited the little self soothing habbit from her mother.

"Amore-" Copie called out over the noise of music, guests, and clinking tableware, Jim lifting his eyes.

Copia did that sort of scrunched-up-face-no words exaggerated-whisper grown ups do to communicate long distance and not have the kids see.

*She's tired, I'll put her to bed*

Jim nodded.

Before Milagro could protest with the possibly t of the line" But it's your day, let me handle the kids", he held up a finger to her lips, *let me*.

She sighed relenting, smiling softly, nodding.

She leaned in and kissed her daughter's head, "You tired mamita?" Charlotte nodded.

"Oh, we're tired? Mmmm-" Copia agreed, his tone a bit sing-song sounding.

"Sounds like we need to have a cuddle eh?" Charlotte nodded and rubbed her nose with the soft fabric of his shirt lazily, tuckered out from the very, very long day of Daddy Jim and Papa Copia's wedding. It was late into the night now and very well past her bedtime. Though unlike most children running around at the wedding reception, tossed onto chairs with jackets, snuggling in their little nests of coziness while the adults' party continued, Copia had a better spot in mind to settle in with his little mouse.

He leaned in and gave Mille a couple soft kisses, thankful ones, and she beamed, so bright, Copia thumbed a gentle caress over her cheek, he really did love her so...

He hoisted Charlotte a little higher onto his chest, "Okidokie, let's go find a spot to cuddle".

Copia was a natural with his children. He understood them. And he knew right now, Charlotte needed some place and quiet away from the party.

He didn't care that it looked odd that he was leaving his own wedding party to take care of his daughter. In fact the guests looked on dotingly watching the once hot tempered Cardinal soften and sweeten with his children growing every day in his arms.

Copia escorted his exhausted daughter out of the venue to find a spot to curl up for a few hours before going home. Besides. Copia was a bit exhausted too. But he was happy he did all this anyways...

He felt a deep satisfaction that he had taken this step of unholy matrimony today, but also, that he was taking his steps to be the present father his children deserved. He deserved to have that chance to be better than his own father had been. And honestly, it was a warm comforting thing, snuggling up with Charlote on his chest on one of the sofas in the "bridesmaid powder room". He could give his daughter this. She deserved his best. Luckily his best was often enough..

Copia pulled his legs up and gripped his discarded wedding dress, the soft satin gentle on his fingers. Swishing it like a blanket, he set it atop Charlotte and himself. She snuggled into the smooth soft fabric, while her Papa wrapped her up in his arms, and kissed her messy blond hair, smoothing it away from her face.

He dipped his veil in a little glass of water nearby and gently wiped away the itchy tears from his daughter cake stained face. She relaxed and her eyes fluttered closed at the gentle touches. Copia smiled and hummed gently over her, his hypnotic voice soothing and soft...and in no time the two were fast asleep...

What a blessing his life had become.

**

Amidst the noise of the party, Jim was on his hands and knees, about to join Ari under the table to help him or bring him back out from it.

Yes, cruelty existed in asshole children, and it landed on the undeserving, like Ari, who was just trying to exist in a world not built for people like him- but the hope Copia had cultivated in his heart, and the healing love Milagro had nourished his soul with, gave Jim the confidence to remind himself, he was doing his best, and it was a beautiful thing.

*The man was 3 years sober from the hard stuff. And everyone was so proud...*

"Jesus" Jim said, his lips pursed a moment, trying not to cry,and be vulnerable and open, and prepare himself. He felt so bad that Ari was so frightened that he took to hiding under the table, seeking shelter against all the lights and noise and sounds...

He was non verbal. And it was too soon to fully tell how severe his autism was. And for Jim, that felt so hard...

All he wanted was his family to be alright. And he worried for his child, Ari/a.

*

"Hay baby, ya'lright?"

Ari had one arm over his eyes and the other over his ear,the hand trying to cup the other closed.

Jim moved into the space. He knew Ari was gonna hate being handled right now but this party wasn't just gonna shut down suddenly; he needed to get Ari out of here.

Trying to be quick, Jim scooped up Ari,who immediately started having a meltdown, kicking and screaming. A few guests watched on as Jim passed by neutral faced, at a quick ,yet unhurried pace, escorting his child out of the main room to a foyer beyond a set of double doors.

Jim could feel his face twinging. It was hard to control Ari and keep them from harming themselves or wrecking things. Jim was overwhelmed. He had hoped to take 'lottie', and that Copia would help handle Ari/a, but not so. And Jim felt his chest tightn like he was about to panick in trying six days to Sunday to calm Ari in his arms.

And poor Ari...

Ari felt like glass shards were pushing onto his skin, his ears singing with the pain of 'too much sound', his little chest sore from hitting his wee fist against it trying to self sooth under that table, and now he was being handled and it felt like he was exploding everywhere that was being touched. So, of course. He was screaming...

All Jim could think to do next was to wrap Ari up in his arms, and sit on the floor, praying the deep pressure would help calm down the screeching and the shrieking, the nogging splitting repeated crying rhythms that just shot panic through Jim's body like getting his whole hand zapped by those electric pens. And this moment was a dar cry from funny...

"Mm-my latest sun is-sinking fast, my race is , is nearly run" Jim sang out. Softly. Warmly. Stuttering as he tried to control his breathing. With all the patience he could muster, and all the love he had to remember to hold on to as it hurt to see Ari/a so upset, but also, that he felt like this situation was making him spiral also.

Fat tears rolled down his face as Ari struggled against Jim's hold, tossing around. Thank God he wasn't a biter or a scratcher.

"Oh come, angel, band"

Ari breathed fast. Trembling, starting to either tire or calm.

"Come and, around me stand, oh bear me away on your snow white wings to my imortal home" Jim sang, his voice steadier now. His gift of voice still there for him, when he needed it most- to take care of his child. But he had to admit, this was helping regulate himself too.

**

Quietly, Teddy was watching from a chair he had been leaning into, feeling the hangover effects the most from Jim and Copia's Stag-do the previous evening, and good lorde did it make him feel a bit ill, after 2 extra glasses of champagne during just the toasts of the evening for the family, oh he felt ill, alright.

Ari's wailing had woken him, but before Teddy could bolt upright for his son, Jim had already passed him and was seated in the dark corner of the foye, wrapped up, trying to calm their special attention child.

As Jim sand and Teddy lingered, approaching the scene as if afraid to spook the little lambs at the Nativity of Christ. Truly Teddy was grateful for his god, in being the rock that held him strong enough to weather life's many storms...

As Teddy's reverent footsteps approached, Ari finally began to still, Teddy rose out of the shaddows, wincing a little but he walked straight softly smiling, eyes on his beloved son. And got to his knees next to Jim, balanced on his fingers in a squat, "You alright Jim ol' bean?"

He smelled like jasmine, wood, and something quiet, like moss on stones. His aura of comfort roaming into Jim and Ari. Both began to feel more soothed.

Jim sighed with releif and handed Ari over to Teddy, who plopped his rear onto the ground beside Jim.

"It's all right love, rain cones down, rain comes down" Teddy chanted softly, his voice warm. Ari hitched and whimpered, but began to twinkle his fingers up and down, still learning how to take deep breaths to calm himself. Hisbeqrly ability to grasp the concept of regulating held hope for them that perhaps he would not require specialized schooling. He seemed quite smart. But of course as parents, mum and Dads, they worry...

Jimmy took a few deep breaths himself, and scoot down, laying on the carpeted floor, and arm over his eyes, "I swear on the sweet in my tea, he doesn't like me."

Teddy gave Jim's covered face a sympathetic look.

He managed to get Ari to stay seated as the child rocked back and forth, trilling softly.

"Jim dearest, you really are much too hard on yourself, these years are precious but I assure you, the totality of your relationship with Ari goes beyond these frustrqtiny moments."

"Yeah.... Yeah I know... fucken fortune cookie...." Jim said, wiping his hands down his face as he groaned and grunted , shaking his hands out before popping his knuckles, fidgeting. Teddy side eyed his friend, and fellow "Brother" in their little group of "Fathers" to their shared children.

"Jim, it's not all bad to have help you know."

"Yeah-well, I'm tryin' not to need anyone so that they can go about their days unbothered". Teddy frowned. "Are you suggesting Ari is the bother or You are?"

"Me dammit!"

"Well it's not *my* fault for you being unclear."

"Oh godd I'm not doing this" Jim said, standing up. A hand held up to stop the looks he was sure Teddy was giving him.

He couldn't stand it.

Today of all days, Teddy is deciding to argue in front of their kid. Jim didn't want that to happen at all. So he marched out, going outside, scrunching his fingers in his hair, and past the double double set of glass doors, Jim let out a frustrated yowl, veins in his neck bulging as he ripped up some grass by the sidewalk.

Teddy palmed his forhead as if it hurt, clearly unimpressed by Jim's behavior and for walking away.

"Well that didn't go very well did it?" Teddy sighed, patting Ari's shoulder in a soothing rhythm. Ari bounced from hand to hand, rocking side to side seated on the ground, his fingers wiggling and his soft trills quieting to an almost chippy sound. Teddy understood why this whole wedding business could overwhelm Jim.

And while he didn't feel guilty, he felt sorry... He had imprinted hard on Ari when he was born. Jim had caught Charlotte when she was born firstbqnd that was his special bonded child. Several minutes after,

Ari slipped through after, but Teddy, who was there to help catch the second baby, had felt bonded in an instant.

Ever since, even now at a toddling age, Teddy could rub his nose over Ari'd black curls falling to his shoulders, and smell that newborn smell still. It felt like comfort. It felt like home...

Everyone always did say Teddy had two great loves in his life, though Teddy would inevitable try and correct the idea and claim his wife his most affectioned heart... but really, there were two... Milagro, his wife in all this, *and his son. He was besotted with that boy the way a father would to his long awaited first born son...

Teddy picked Ari up and swayed softly, singing a soft lullaby, glancing every few moments to check on Jim throufg rhe windows.

Jim was seated, cross-legged in the grass, his back to the doors. He clearly needed a moment.

Ari tucked into his Dada's shoulder. Settling but still fidgeting in the fingers.

At once a group of children scattered through and out the doors surprising Jim outside, as the flock of trampling children took off around the building where the other champagne drinking adults sat on the venue steps.

Jim was bewildered by the heard of little beasties but then tilted his brow down and smirked.

Teddy looked quizzically at Milagro who walked through the main room's doors a smug look on her face. And Ari's headphones in her hands.

Teddy smiled and took them, putting them on Ari who almost immediately calmed and fell fast asleep. His crying had also sounded tired, Teddy knew his children's crying sounds and what they meant better than anyone. Well... except Milagro... who gave a wink to Teddy and Jim through the walls of glass.

Soon she was following Teddy towards the coat room to collect their things and take their little one home, with a wave goodnight.

Jimmy laid back in the soft grass, looking up at the evening sky. "I love that woman" he chuckled to himself.

He saw her face in the door before Teddy had, and she had been half transformed into her beast shape. That woman had single handedly hunted down the little gang of rascals that had dared mess with her children, and like a momma defending her cubs, she had well, scared the ever lovin' shit out of them, and gotten Ari's head phones back. What a woman she was!

Jimmy smiled to himself as he felt the cool grass he lay in, tickle against his neck.

Everything would be alright. He had to have faith it would...

And so with a prayer and a brave face, Jimmy had his moment, got up, and walked back inside to find his newly married husband, his beautiful groom and their beautiful daughter, collapsed in a heap in the powder room. He woke them, got their sleepy forms into the car, the blissful fullnes in his his heart that he fwlt when he was the one to take care of them, take them home to where it was warm and full of lovr. And it felt healing to know, even if he wasn't perfect, like, at fucking all, And he didn't know what he was doing half the time, he knew... He could do this... bring everyone home safe and sound...

***

11 years later

***

Ari nodded his head, dark curls bobbing around his face, making his brain hum hapilly. The little beads woven in a few of the locks clattered softly. Humming contentedly, he stimmed, fingers curling and fluttering the way it feels when butterflied whoosh past.

The sound of music coiling long in his ears. His young shoulders were lean, but strong. He was humming in a soft voice that bordered two singing ranges. And much like his father, and the person of his namesake, his voice could even make the birds stop to listen.

His bed was scrunched in the corner of his room, framed by the low light bulbed by a single desk lamp on the table... and the golden hour outside hiding behind overcast clouds.

High-school photos and awards on the wall flowed like music, he really was turning that side of his room into quite the collage.

He looked up at them,eyes wandering as he mulled over his thouggts. Then a white flash of flapping fluttered up into the tree outside the sunny window. His red flecked eyes, warm and inquisitive, beaming, pursed lips wrapping around his fine featured face in a cheerful smile.

"So, you Are here!" he said, voice breaking a little. But only just. Things weren't exactly hurrying along during these puberty years for him...

But at least it felt like time was finnally moving again. Facing summer, and the white raven trilling softly in the tree outside his bedroom window, he felt like everything would be okay.

Glancing down he flipped to another song and picked what he wanted straight away. Always sure of himself in that regard, of knowing what he wanted.

His knees were drawn into his chest and a sketchbook lay over his thighs. All was calm. All was bright.

There was something endearing about the crowing thing in the tree. Ari flung open the window and the fresh air flooded in with the breeze, bringing the white raven, cawing in with it.

"HaWOwah" It spoke, perching in the window sill, feathers sliggtly ruffled.

"Hello to you too!" Ari chuckled, bowing like a gentleman, ankles crossed and a delicate hand raised aloft. The black Baggy pants and white muscle shirt, high-necked and punky chains and rings, long black curls floating in front of his face as he leant it forward.

"I'm not the one who's late!" Ari said, a bit of a snip in a managed, hospitable, tone as the bird croaked and clicked .

"Hangry, or not, that wasn't very nice!" Ari tisked, crossing to a dresser, with-drawing a handful of bird food: berries, bugs, nuts, Jerry, dried fish and grains. He spread them delicately over the windowsill, compelled to try and sprinkle the contents as evenly as possible, constant throughout the same ratio of things from one end to the next.

Politely the Corvid bowed her head and began with the big things first, her favorites. Dried fruit peices and the crisp of dehydrated minnow-fish.

Quite the array of corvid delicacy.

Ari stood, proudly, with arms crossed and a jutted hip. Almost smug, in the face, his beautiful fae like features mesmerizing the bird to fluster.

Ari took the feather ruffulage as a sign that pergaos he was making friends with something, for once.

"Ari, come on, we're gonna be late!" Another young voice called from beyond the downstairs loft.

"Comming!" He yelled back, snatching up his noise canceling headphones, backpack, Jean battle jacket and his guitar.

"Mind the place yeh?" He smiled at the Corvid, his teeth gleaming nicely.

"GoohBye!' The Raven said. And nothing more. It paused it's eating and looked at aAri confused.

"Well if I take you then everyone will know where I've run off to. Can't keep a secret, or can you?" he mumbled, his question insistant, as if mildly irritated at having to explains something he thought so simple to understand.

"Look if you're comming along, you're staying with me the whole time, flying around up in the sky where everyone can see you, everyone will know, up in the tree or on Sanjays head, don't care."

"LehGoh!"

"Right then!" Ari huffed, holding out his arm.

The bird swooped to it, heavy when one's arm is stretched.

Slinging the guitar on his back and wearing his backpack front ways, Ari hustled down the stairs and out the door. A small note on the little table with the brass key holder dropped in a flash, and out he went

"Gone on sleepover. back by 10a"

As Ari piled into the truck with his crew, sneaking off to the lake, he felt something flutter in his young chest, seeing their faces. He didn't look long in their eyes but his quiet demeanor did not mean he was forgotten. Beloved friends, group of highschoolers, off on an adventure, taking gravel roads all the way there ,"Bring me that Horizon, awooooʻooʻooo!" He howled, arms wide, fist to the sky from the back of the truck window, sitting wedged in the openinng, he was so slim, .

Howling and hanging out of the windows, feeling that free air whoosh past. It was an incredible feeling. And Ari was excited for the night to fall. When they would get to their wooded hideout, "Their Spot" at The Quarry. Where things would happen that no one would ever forget...

‘‘Is it MJ?’‘ Tony asked instead. Steve facepalmed and heaved a heavy sigh when Peter spluttered indignantly. 

‘‘Why-MJ’s my friend’‘ He insisted. 

‘‘We know, but friends don’t make you smile that big’‘ Tony pointed like the smart-ass he was. 

‘‘I don’t know about that, Bucky makes me smile pretty big’‘ Clint contested, looking up at Bucky with a shit-eating grin. 

‘‘Okay hawkguy, we know you guys aren’t just friends which just proves my point’‘ Tony stated, turning back towards his son with a grin. 

Peter covered his face with his hands and mumbled something. 

‘‘What was that, Pete?’‘ Steve tried the gentle approach, smiling encouragingly. 

Peter huffed in annoyance, glaring at everyone in sight. 

‘‘I said, can’t I have some sense of privacy? It’s my right you know’‘ He stated indignantly before stomping off like the moody teenager he is. 

‘‘Whew, talk about hormones’‘ Tony clicked his tongue. 

‘‘Tony..’‘ Steve looked at his husband with raised his eyebrows and Tony sighed. 

‘‘Okay okay, he’s right. Everyone back off from Peter until he’s ready to tell us’‘ Tony announced to the room. 

Everyone in the room nodded understandingly and turned back towards the movie. It lasted for about 2 minutes before Bruce finally spoke up. 

‘‘I know who it is.’‘ 

All eyes turned towards Bruce but Steve held up a hand before anyone can get a word in 

‘‘Mind keeping it to yourself, Bruce?’‘ Steve asked, eyes pleading to understand. 

Bruce nodded and mimed zipping his lips which made Clint and Sam groan in protest. 

+

  The whole movie night incident was forgotten for a while and the next time they had a Star Wars marathon was 2 weeks later. This time, Peter had invited someone over and had told his parents beforehand to not act weird or he will bolt from this tower and to Clint’s apartment in Bed-Stuy faster than Iron Man can suit up. Tony agreed but couldn’t stop grinning and Steve reassured that the avengers would be on their best behaviour. 

Which they all agreed to be except for when Peter walked out of the elevator with none other than Johnny Storm from the Fantastic Four. Tony almost choked on his coffee and Steve looked like he wanted to drop dead right then and there. 

‘‘Oh look it’s Reed Richard’s brother-in-law’‘ Tony mumbled, elbowing Steve in the ribs so hard it was fortunate he was a super soldier or he would’ve doubled over. 

Clint, who was hanging out at the counter of the kitchen with the perfect view of what was happening right now was laughing into his hand & Bruce who was preparing dinner had an amused smile on his face.

“Hi Mr Stark, Captain.” Johnny waved and smiled good naturedly as Peter mumbled something under his breath and steered him to one of the couches in the rec room.

Steve seemed to get his bearings quickly and gave Johnny a polite smile. “Johnny, good to see you. How’s Sue and the rest?” He asked, gently pulling Tony to the kitchen so he wouldn’t completely burst in front of their son on and could possibly be their son’s friend/more than a friend.

“Same old same old, i’m off babysitting duty tonight so Peter invited me for a good old fashioned Star Wars marathon” Johnny replied, grinning at Peter as he did.

Steve and Tony watched- amazed- as their son’s face turned an alarmingly shade of red that could beat Steve’s when he was attempting to flirt with Tony ages ago.

“Oh god it’s like watching a re-run of the Tony & Steve romance” Bucky groaned miserably which made Clint and Bruce ignore all kinds of subtlety as they laughed at the statement.

+

   Unfortunately, Peter had only introduced Johnny as his friend and not something else and honestly who could blame his state of denial, just look at his parents? It took them years of pining and some serious avenger-meddling, plus a near death sacrificial near death experience to get them to where they are now. 

‘‘So, Peter and.. Johnny’‘ Tony started on the night that their son invited the human torch over as he joined Steve in bed. Steve closed the book he was reading and set it aside so Tony could snuggle up to him comfortably. 

‘‘Peter said they were friends’‘ Steve pointed out and Tony hid a disbelieving snort where he was hiding his face in Steve’s chest. 

‘‘And you believe him?’‘ Tony lifted his head slightly to look at his husband with raised eyebrows. 

Steve rolled his eyes fondly as his hand played with Tony’s soft hair. 

‘‘I believe we should let Peter have his privacy and trust that he’ll tell us when he’s ready’‘ 

Tony hummed in agreement but then it turned into a groan of frustration. 

‘‘But why Johnny Storm? How did they even become close? Did Reed and Sue invite Peter to playdates without me knowing?’‘ Tony gave a faux gasp as a thought descended on him. 

‘‘.. You think Peter is secretly helping Reed in his lab? Is he betraying me and Bruce?’‘ 

Steve let out a laugh and placed a kiss on Tony’s forehead while the other man was pouting away at his own thoughts. 

‘‘Stop thinking so hard, Tony. they probably have mutual friends in school’‘ Steve tried to reassure him but it was hardly working. 

+

  Peter thought he was slick, he really did. He only ever invited Johnny over during the day - the boy never stayed the night. The only physical thing they did was fist bumps and high fives and he made sure Johnny never looked at him like that when they were anywhere near the other avengers after the first time he brought him over. Tough luck though because even a blind man could see it though. Or in Clint’s case - a deaf man.

     He narrowed his eyes slightly when Johnny casually slung an arm around Peter’s shoulders and the brunette gently took the arm off - stuttering something about getting some sodas and then throwing Clint a look before running to the kitchen.

Johnny sighed and scratched his head idly, making Clint feel kinda sorry for the kid.

He remembered wanting to touch Bucky almost all the time when they were a thing but not a thing and nobody knew about their thing. Thankfully, now he could because their thing became a relationship and Clint was so happy they did.

He wondered if Peter was going through the same thing. He’s never talked about girls before - except for MJ, his best friend. But even if he was gay or bi - Tony and Steve and the avengers were literally the last person that he would have problems with.

 “Hey, Johnny” Clint called out, making the blonde turn to him with a soft smile.

“Hawkeye” He nodded. Clint rolled his eyes at the formality and made himself comfortable next to the teenage fantastic four hero.

“You’re here almost every day, I think you can call me Clint now” He reassured him.

Johnny nodded and then looked back up to the movie that was on. They were watching Fast and Furious. Very romantic.

Clint wondered if he should ask the burning question or not, he wasn’t Peter’s parent. He should’ve called Tony or Steve but Peter would definitely chicken out if his parents were involved so maybe he should step in and be the voice of reason. Oh wow, if Nat could see him now.

“So... You and Peter...”

Oh great Hawkeye, nice start. Clint was mentally chastising himself when Johnny laughed, knowing how uncomfortable this was making the avenger.

“Peter and I... like each other” Johnny responded.

“That’s great!” Clint said but the look Johnny gave him didn’t make it like it was such a great thing.

“Isn’t it?” Clint asked.

“Yes! It’s great...” Johnny agreed, a soft smile appearing on his face. Aw man, Clint shouldn’t have said anything.

“But..?” Clint pressed on, determined to get an answer as to why they were hiding it.

“Oh well... Peter doesn’t want Captain America and Mr.Stark to know” Johnny explained.

Clint raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“The son of a gay couple doesn’t want his gay parents to know he’s gay?” Clint asked.

Johnny laughed suddenly and Clint looked like he was insane. What the hell?

“Oh no no! Peter isn’t worried about that! He just doesn’t want them to start worrying or worse - give him the talk”

Clint pulled a face and contemplated this information. Steve would be relentless about the talk and would badger Johnny with questions. Tony on the other hand would just be cool about it (after he was sure that Peter wasn’t doing science stuff with other scientists) but once he was okay with it, then he could go overboard too like rent a whole theme park for them or something.

The kid was smart, Clint could give him that.

“Well it won’t be long till they officially find out anyway.. right JARVIS?” Clint emphasised his point by asking the AI who had eyes all over the tower.

“You are quite possibly right, Mr Barton” The AI managed to answer and somehow sound smug for an artifical intelligence robot.

Clint shrugged at Johnny as if to say “see?” but the teenager just shook his head with an amused smile.

“Have you forgotten that Peter is Stark’s son? Of course he knows JARVIS watches everything. Which is why we only ever do stuff at my place” Johnny pointed out.

“Man, that kid is smart” Clint mumbled out loud this time, shaking his head.

Johnny nodded solemnly. “It kinda sucks though, i feel like a dirty secret sometimes” He mumbled the last part which Clint may or may not have caught even with his ear aids on but he could lip read pretty well.

Which was why he clapped a hand on the boy’s shoulder and gave him a small encouraging smile.

+

Peter heard everything. Of course he did, and damn was he that obvious with Johnny that even Clint figured it out?

After Clint left, they continued hanging our until Sue called Johnny back home to babysit and he didn’t even bother to give Peter a “bro” hug before leaving.

And it hurt. Gave him a slight tugging at his chest like someone was squeezing it to see how much he could endure.

He left to the rooftop of the tower, sitting on the ledge like he wasn’t a clumsy idiot who could fall off anytime but it gave him a sense of calmness. Whenever things got too much, he would look out at the Manhattan skyline and try to imagine that his problems were not as big as it was.

This one was pretty big though. He should just tell his parents about Johnny. Like really tell them, basically outing himself. It’s not like they would care much. It’s just that Peter sometimes feels like his parents were too involved in his life. He loves the attention when he was younger but he was 16 now and if both of them found out about Johnny, they would be relentless. It sounds ridiculous and yet what’s more ridiculous than having Captain America & Iron Man as his dads?

“Oh, i know that look” Peter startled at the voice, whipping his head around to locate where it came from.

“Jesus Uncle Buck, I could’ve fell” He gestured towards the ledge manically.

Bucky shrugged and made himself comfortable right next to Peter.

“Hmm, i would’ve caught you kid. No problem” Bucky replied calmly. Peter opened his mouth to protest but then stopped because he would. Him and Clint and Nat and anyone else in this tower would do anything to make sure he’s okay. He felt a pang of guilty at that because him keeping Johny away from them was something that was definitely not right. 

‘‘You look as miserable as when Steve told Tony he couldn’t buy his way in for you to ride that rollercoaster when you were 4′‘ Bucky said, his metal arm ruffling Peter’s hair slightly. 

He would normally complain but this time it felt comforting so he just slouched down more and sighed. 

‘‘I feel bad keeping Johnny a secret’‘ He mumbled helplessly. 

‘‘What secret?’‘ Bucky responded amusingly and Peter threw him a look that made the older man laugh. 

‘‘We all clearly know you’re dating him. Go at your own pace to tell your parents, kid. There’s literally no rush.’‘ He reassured. 

‘‘I can’t! Johnny told Clint he felt like a dirty secret’‘ 

The look of no surprise on Bucky’s face told Peter that he knew that already. Is there even anything that Clint knows that Bucky won’t know? 

‘‘You gotta remember relationships are a two-way thing. Parents and adults aside, it all boils down to the fact that if you and Johnny are ready to go public. You’re a Stark-Rogers, kid and he’s a teenage superhero. There’s literally no hiding if you decide to show everyone. And to start, you have to make it clear with your parents. You know Steve and Tony would make sure nothing happens to you right?’‘ Bucky finished the last sentence with a small smile and Peter nodded, his eyebrows furrowed in determination as he took in what was being said. 

‘‘The winter soldier just gave me dating advice’‘ Peter mumbled, burying his face in his hands. 

Bucky moved to get up with one last pat on the shoulder for him. 

‘‘I’ll make sure Hawkeye steps in next time, and knowing teenagers - I can guess what’s next’‘ He pulled a face. 

Realisation on what Bucky was implying dawned on Peter and he made a face at that. ‘’Gross, please go away’’ and all he heard was Bucky’s retreating laughter.

So Peter guessed it was time to officially introduce his boyfriend huh?