Chapter Text
July rolled around, and that meant the summer ‘Stark Internship’, which meant part time interning and part time kicking ass with the Avengers. This meant that Peter was residing in the Stark Tower in New York, that had since become the Avengers Tower, before being transferred to the Avengers Compound, and he was sleeping in the same general vicinity of the Big Boys. It’s like knowing you’re staying in the same hotel as like Barack Obama or Beyonce or something. Peter had zero self-control, and his ability of containment grew ten times worse with the arrival of T’Challa, Shuri, and Okoye. Peter knew Shuri was his favourite, because within seconds of stepping into the Avengers Tower, she shook Peter’s hand.
“You ready to fuckin’ die?” He asked, and Shuri had smirked in response.
“I’m a bad bitch, you can’t kill me.”
Needless to say, everyone watched in horror, save Tony and T’Challa, who sighed heavily and pinched the bridges of their noses with their fingers. They already knew they were destined to wreak havoc.
One of Tony’s labs had been overthrown by Peter and Shuri, whereupon they spent most of their time. Most times the two didn’t even use their designated rooms, which annoyed Tony, because he could hear them in his lab over his AC/DC at two in the morning when he was trying to get shit done. He could only wonder what the two kids were doing, but couldn’t really find himself to care too much, because they were staying out of his way.
When Shuri and Peter weren’t in the lab they’d overthrown, they were hidden away in the cinema room, where Peter was showing Shuri the greatest movies to grace the human race. These movies may or may not have included Star Wars, Disney movies, and Indiana Jones (but not Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, we don’t talk about her), and they may or may not have renamed their lab Starkiller Base with a kickass neon sign. Peter even tried to convince Shuri to make fully functioning lightsabers, but she declined, because she had already made some and had brought them with her. Peter found himself completely in awe of her presence and talent, and her looks were a hardcore bonus, but he didn’t really think about that last one because he was too busy inspecting the freakin’ lightsaber his friend made.
Tony Stark was making himself a coffee at one in the morning when he found the kids fighting with real , fully functioning , lethal lightsabers. He was in awe, yet at the same time, he didn’t want to have to deal with two teenagers running around the Avengers Compound with weapons.
“I thought I told you not to bring those.” T’Challa made his appearance from the shadows, and the kids halted for a moment.
“I made them when I was eleven. At least I’m not upgrading or remaking them.”
“You made these when you were eleven?” Peter gaped in awe, lowering his saber to the point where it began making a nice black mark on the wood floor…
“Peter, I- just get that nonsense out of here.” Tony waved them off, shaking his head as they bounded back down to the lab.
And if Tony and T’Challa talked about how those kids were giving them grey hairs, no one heard.
The rest of the Avengers had no idea what was going on, and how Peter and Shuri had so many understood jokes, when the two had only known each other for a little more than a week. The confusion only grew as the Avengers welcomed the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’, as they called themselves, to join them in their humble abode. This brought along the introduction to a teenage Groot, a tree-like creature who was found partaking in some of Peter and Shuri’s antics. One of said antics was ‘the floor is lava’.
“I AM GROOT!” Came the yell in the midst of the Big Boys having an Important Meeting.
Shuri launched herself via a long pvc pipe and vaulted over a couch to land on the kitchen counter, knocking over all the fruit. Peter’s head swivelled around, his eyes full of panic, before using his spider powers to cling onto the closest thing to him. T’Challa was not amused with the fact that Peter was sitting on his shoulders uninvited, and many raised eyebrows, including Rocket ‘Not-A-Raccoon’ Racoon.
“How do they understand you? You’ve known ‘em, what? Three days?”
“I am Groot.”
“Don’t give me that sass.”
“I am Groot.”
“And I am not old.”
Peter and Shuri’s bond grew as they became more daring with their controlled chaos, and most times, Groot just watched from the sidelines, egging them on. Between upgrading the lightsabers and tinkering with one of Tony’s trashed repulsor projects, they had managed to cause much stress upon both Tony and T’Challa. The rest of the Avengers became worried for the mental sanity of the two guardians of the kids.
“Your son, boy of spiders, seems to be enjoying himself.” Thor commented one day, and Tony gaped.
“I- W-What? He’s not my kid.”
“Surely he must be, what other child would stand you?”
Tony saw most of the other people present in the room nodding in agreement. Shuri was giggling from where she and Peter were lurking in the corner.
“Okay, whoever thought Peter was my kid, raise your hands.”
Tony watched. Peter Quill, Thor, Drax, Bruce, Natasha, Clint, Strange, and others raised their hands. Tony scanned the crowd his eyebrows furrowing as he gaped, seeing even Rhodey’s hand raised meekly.
“Rhodes!”
“I thought it was on the down-low, like I wasn’t supposed to mention it.”
Tony rolled his eyes, and scanned the room, his eyes falling on a raised hand in the corner.
“Peter put your hand down.”
“You’re not my dad!” Shuri yelled, and Peter shook his head.
“Ugly ass noodle head.” He commented, and Tony placed a hand over his chest and gaped in mock betrayal.
“Go blow some stuff up before I take your lab away, kids.”
Peter and Shuri looked at one another, grinning wildly, their eyes gleaming with glee. Tony regretted saying that.
“I- Don’t actually blow anything up.” He backtracked, and the kids’ smiles dimmed a little as they ran off, already chattering.
At one point, the golden trio of rascals made their way down and into Tony’s lab. He’d been working on finding an alternative to Vibranium, taking samples from Steve’s shield. He turned his back for a second, and when he turned back, he found Shuri holding the shield and gazing at it in mild satisfaction.
Then, everything happened at once.
Steve walked down into the lab at the same time Shuri turned toward Peter, tossing the shield.
“This bitch empty!” She yelled as Peter caught the shield.
“YEET!” Peter yelled, not even thinking as he launched the shield, sending it slamming into the far concrete wall with a heavy cathunk .
Steve just gaped. Tony was furious. Peter was horrified. Shuri was trying not to laugh. Groot just watched in a mix of horror and humour.
Tony turned away from the shield implanted in his concrete wall, glaring at Peter.
“Out. Now.”
“M-Mister Stark, I-”
“Out.”
And if it hurt Tony to see Peter duck his head in shame and trudge off, he’d never admit it.
Tony expected the kids to back off a bit, but oh how he was proven wrong.
With the release of one Winter Soldier from a cryo chamber, the interest in him peaked. Groot was the first one to touch Bucky’s metal arm (after a Wakandan upgrade and an over-protective Steve, of course), and both the tree and ex-assassin stared at each other in confusion.
“We need that guy’s arm for our plans to work!” Rocket cackled, and Bucky cradled his metal arm protectively, scowling at the talking rodent before him.
“I- We got off on the wrong foot last time, and I was wondering…?” Peter approached Bucky after most of the crowd had dispersed, and Bucky raised a brow, before extending an arm.
Peter delicately touched the arm, feeling the cold metal against his hands, and he marveled at all of the intricate engravings upon it that were definitely of Wakandan origin.
“Wow…” Peter breathed in awe, looking up at Bucky to find his face still stoic.
“I AM GROOT!” Came a yell, and Peter felt his hands jerk, pulling harshly on the metal arm.
“YEET!” He screamed, throwing the severed metal arm across the compound at Shuri.
“Give me back my arm you shits!” Bucky hollered after them, and Peter could only run as fast as his little legs could take him.