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Snow clung to the tower windows in a layer of frosted ice, encrusting the glass with tiny structures of ice crystals, The swirling flakes flying by blasting the New York skyline with the ferocity of Pepper's planning on holidays.
The kitchen island was a riot. Half-empty cocoa packets scattered across the counter like casualties of a chocolate war, a bowl of candy canes was picked of all the unbroken ones, and Shuri’s makeshift frother hummed over a mug of cocoa that looked more like a whipped chocolate cloud than a drink.
Kaz rested her elbows on the counter, chin in her hands, steam from her mug curling into her hair. Peter hovered over her, stealthily plucking marshmallows from her cup. The way he licked the sticky remnants off his fingers made her stomach do that fluttery thing that had been becoming more and more uncomfortably familiar. It was distracting, and infuriating when the nervous giddiness consumed her.
Kaz tried to physically pivot away from her problems, and somehow ended up slamming gently into the edge of the counter.
Harley Keener, in the corner, didn’t even flinch. He leaned back against the counter, mug in hand, half-smirk on his face, scrolling through a tablet like he was the only true adult there, as if he had been put in charge of babysitting them. Though in her mind, he was part spectator, part instigator. Older than the rest of them, maybe—but somehow, still very much tangled in their shenanigans.
Kaz’s head swiveled once more, though this time her body didn’t turn with it. She scanned the room, still half-lost in thoughts of Peter… who stuck in her mind more than that marshmallow goo. Nonetheless, her eyes landed on something… new.
New, at least to her.
Across from them, Kate and Joaquin sat far too close on stools. Shoulder-to-shoulder, hips practically nudging, like they had given up on pretense entirely.
She nudged Pete with the softest kick. “Bug boy—look.”
Peter's attention was pulled from his marshmallow heist by the motion, and when he saw why, he was thoroughly intrigued. His brown pupils dilated, then blinked twice, as he whispered, “Uhh… hmm, that’s… cozy.”
Kaz grinned, teasing sharp as tinsel. “Cozy? That’s what we’re calling that?!” She jabbed her chin toward them, her voice clear as the crystal decor lining Wanda’s room, the tone had that teasing lilt that always took Peter’s mind wandering… to other things… but as directed, his eyes went to the two other people cuddled up in the room.
“Okay, fine,” he admitted. “More than cozy… more like… cuddling.”
Kaz leaned back, surveying the scene with mock horror. “More like melting."
