"Hey, kid." Tony walks into Daphne's room unannounced. She doesn't look at him. A few days ago, he told her his side of the story and she told him she needs time to let her anger out. She may have also told him where to shove it, but Tony just nodded and left. At least he understood she didn't like him keeping that secret from her.
"Hey," she replies simply. She's doing her homework, hoping to catch up so she can start classes again on Monday.
"I know you're not really happy with me right now, but I just wanted to let you know that we have the monthly Avengers dinner thingy tonight and eh, well..." He scratches the back of his head. "Since you've been here for a while now and getting better, I figured it'd be appropriate to invite you to that."
Daphne cocks an eyebrow and glances at him.
"Avengers dinner?" The skeptical remark makes Tony laugh softly.
"Yeah, Steve's idea, not mine." Tony sucks at his teeth and taps his foot. Daphne shifts her attention back to her homework and doesn't reply. "It's at six. We'll save you a seat."
"Thanks." Tony blinks a few times.
"Did you just say thanks?"
"I can take it back, yaknow?" she replies promptly.
"No take-backsies." He points at her as he says that. He starts moving out the door again and Daphne scoffs.
"How old are you again?" He's already out the door but replies anyways:
"That's not a very nice question to ask a man of my age!" He shouts from the hallway.
"You basically just said you're old!" She shouts back at him. He suddenly pokes his head back in.
"Touché." He grins wide with his lips pressed together. His eyes turn to slits. "So," he says quickly as he nods. "See you at six?"
"Sure."
The second Tony closes the door she realizes what this means. Dinner with the Avengers. Sure, she might have warmed up to a few of them, but there are more Avengers than the ones she's had conversations with. She knows they're all just people too, but it's still quite intimidating to sit at a table with them. Is Peter going to be there? He told her he isn't officially an Avenger, which worries her. But if she's invited to the dinner, why wouldn't Peter be? She hopes with all her heart that he's going to be there too.
...
Daphne makes her way to the penthouse living quarters. Her dad didn't pack regular clothes for her, so she's still in sweatpants and Peter's Midtown Tech hoodie. She quietly prays that there isn't actually a dress code. The elevator door dings and the doors open.
"Daph!" Peter looks up from his work in the kitchen and a bright smile spreads across his face.
"Pete, hey, you're here too?"
"It's my turn to cook," he says, almost apologetically. Daphne walks towards him and gently takes the knife out of his hand. She presses a quick kiss on his cheek and bumps his hip with hers, silently telling him to step aside. Instead of stepping to the side, he takes a step back so he can wrap his arms around her waist. She takes the bell pepper in her hand and continues chopping it.
"You seem nervous," she jokes.
"Parkers aren't good cooks." He laughs at his own remark, but it dies down. "All the Avengers are gonna have to eat what I make them. Last time we had to order takeout cause I somehow set the pot on fire." Daphne chuckles.
"You don't just set a pot on fire- what did you do?"
"Honestly, no clue."
Daphne enjoys the warmth of Peter's body against her back and has to put in a lot of effort to continue focusing on bell pepper in front of her.
"Tony said dinner was at six?" Daphne glances at the clock on the wall.
"It's actually at seven."
"Ah, so this was a ruse to get me out of the room," she scoffs with a smile.
"Dunno. I mean, he knew I'd be here at six." Peter presses his lips against her temple in a soft kiss, but she winces slightly at the sudden ache jolting through her head. She clutches the knife and Peter immediately lets go of her. "Sorry!" Daphne leans on the counter with both her hands, one of them still holding the knife, and she takes a few breaths.
"It's okay, Pete. Just gotta take it slow." She groans quietly. "Stupid concussion."
"Are you alright? Can I get you anything?" His hand rests gently on her upper arm.
"Just hold me," she sighs as she leans back against him. She frowns again when the pain doesn't seem to go away. "Okay, maybe also a paracetamol."
...
At around a quarter to seven, some of the Avengers started coming up to the penthouse. Bruce first, then Steve and Sam. They all sat down at the dinner table after saying hi to the cooks. Sam decided to comment on Daphne being in the kitchen with Peter to keep him from setting things ablaze again, recalling the pot fire from last time with a snort. Bucky didn't say anything when he arrived, but he did raise an eyebrow at Daphne, smiling at the fact that she finally came out of her room. Daphne smiled back and with a nod he made his way to the dinner table. Conversations and laughter fill the large room and Peter turns to Daphne.
"What was that?" Peter whispers.
"Wha-?"
"Bucky?" He raises his eyebrows at her and she chuckles slightly as she stirs the pasta.
"We had a chat a few days ago," she whispers back at him.
"You had a chat with I-don't-talk-to-anyone-but-Steve-Nat-and-Sam Bucky?" Daphne shrugs.
"He talked to me." She turns her head to look at Peter, who stares at her. "He's pretty cool." Peter scoffs and continues chopping up the basil.
"Yeah, no kidding."
"Jealous, Pete?" Daphne smirks.
"No!" He says a little too loud. The table goes quiet and everyone turns to look at him. His cheeks go red and he quickly turns back to the basil. To everyone's surprise, Daphne laughs out loud, dropping the spoon into the pot and hugging her waist. She hasn't laughed like this since she was brought in last week. It's a pleasant sound and it's proof of her recovery, easing everyone's concerns. Her laughter fills the room with a warmth no one knew was missing.
...
It's kind of weird to see Peter so comfortable with his powers around other people. He easily carried both large pots at the same time, one in each hand, to the table. She didn't really realize how much he actually holds back until he doesn't. Natasha and another man walk into the penthouse. It takes Daphne a second to realize it's the man known as Hawkeye. What is his name again? Flint? She puffs her cheeks and hopes that his name will drop at some point during the dinner. She takes the cheese she shredded to the table and places it next to the big pots.
Daphne turns to walk to the kitchen once more, when they're all interrupted by Tony, who – as usual – is fashionably late. Pepper is right behind him.
"Evenin' everyone." There's a rather smug smile on his face and Daphne hates to admit that she doesn't like it. He's up to something. "Thought our guest would've been here already, but apparently not." Daphne cocks an eyebrow and places her hands on her hips. Guest? "Kind of annoying," he adds. "I prefer being the last to join the party." Pepper rolls her eyes behind him and nudges him to the table.
Peter dries his hands after washing them and absentmindedly tosses the towel to Daphne, who just turned off the tap. She doesn't look up, yet catches the towel with ease. He shoots her a quick smile before heading towards the table. Daphne looks up and sees there are only a few spots left. She thinks for a second, but ends up heading to the seat next to Bucky. It's probably the best place to sit for her, with Peter right opposite her.
"So, what are we eating tonight? Thai? Pizza?" Sam jokes. Daphne scoffs and shakes her head. Peter defends his dish.
"Actually, we're eating pasta." Sam playfully raises an eyebrow at him.
"A true student meal."
"Cut us some slack, man," Daphne laughs. "We're not chefs." Sam raises his pointer finger and nods approvingly, making everyone chuckle.
"Yet!"
When everyone has filled up their plates for their first round, the pleasant conversations are suddenly silenced by an orange circle appearing next to the table. Daphne holds her breath as doctor Strange walks through. He adjusts the sleeves of his coat and clears his throat. A frown appears on his face. Without looking up from his cuffs he sighs deeply.
"Stark, what is she doing here?" Daphne stares at him with her jaw clenched. He knew she was there simply by being in the same room as him. He senses her.
"He's your guest?" Bruce butts in, quietly telling Tony off for his actions and confirming that no one knew this was going to happen. Tony quickly stands up with his hands raised, trying to keep the peace.
"Doctor, good to have you here!"
...
To say the dinner became awkward after that, would probably be the greatest understatement of the year. Stephen was seated next to Peter, diagonally opposite Daphne. Her appetite has disappeared completely. She twists and untwists the spaghetti in her fork. Stephen hasn't even grabbed a plate of food. All he does is stare at her. Tony clears his throat.
"The reason why you're both here is because I would like you two to talk it out." Daphne turns her head to look at him with raised eyebrows.
"And drag all of them into this?" She gestures to the rest of the Avengers.
"Social pressure. I'd like you to keep it civil."
"You know what, you're an asshole." Daphne stands up, pushing her chair back.
"Sit down, Daphne." She glares at Strange and doesn't move. He doesn't get to tell her what to do. She's not going to listen to him. To Daphne's surprise, Bucky moves forward to lean on the table.
"Rephrase your sentences," he says. "Giving her orders won't actually make her ease up to you."
"Do I look like I want her to ease up on me?" Stephen scoffs. Daphne throws her hands up.
"You know what? Fuck this." She stands up and moves away from the table towards the elevator. "Fuck you," she hisses at no one in particular. She blinks once and suddenly Strange is right next to her. He grabs her wrist harshly, but could not have predicted what would happen next. An odd, but strong flow surges through him and Daphne yelps at the contact.
Everyone at the dinner table stares at the scene in front of them in shock. Daphne's eyes seem to be glowing slightly, as are Stephen's. He looks at Daphne's wrist that he's holding and then at his own hand. It tingles strangely and light blue sparks jump from their skin. His muscles are completely tensed and his mind races. What is happening? He feels strange. Powerful. He gasps as he lets go of her and they both stumble backwards, away from each other. Daphne's legs give way and she falls to her knees.
Peter finds himself rushing to Daphne without thinking. He tries to touch her, but he flinches and pulls back his hand when he hears a snap and the immediate heat of Daphne's skin on his stings him again. He stares at the regulator around his wrist and blinks at it as he sees smoke coming out of it. It... Broke? Daphne's eyes stop glowing, but she can't do much, other than staring ahead. Stephen stands up straight, cracking his back. He's frowning at the hand he held Daphne with and slowly shifts his attention to the girl when she speaks softly.
"Did you just..."
"I did not mean to," he replies quickly and quietly. She looks up at him with wide eyes.
"You... Did not mean to channel me?" She pushes out. He looks at her embarrassed.
"The silver mist warned me I would be tempted to use you, but I did not expect my body to act subconsciously like that." Daphne's hand slowly moves to her back to rub on her aching scar.
No one at the table dares to move. Even Tony doesn't know what to say.
"Is..." Daphne pauses to take a breath and start over. "Is that why you act so cold?" Stephen's face contorts and he looks away, clenching his fist. "To distance yourself from me?"
"You need to realize that not everyone has bad intentions," he says through gritted teeth, still looking away.
He turns around and brings his hands forward to create a portal. Portals are relatively easy to make, especially the ones that bring him back to the Sanctum, but the speed at which the portal appeared with Daphne's... help... was astonishing. He hates how good it feels to have that extra boost. He's never experienced anything like this before. Ordinary channeling devices are nothing compared to the little bit he took from Daphne. He winces. He took it from her. Without her consent. But the kick he got out of it, is mind blowing. Like he's on PCP. He's invincible. The portal, that's usually orange, now has hints of blue painted through it.
"Now, if you will excuse me," he turns his head slightly, taking a breath and doing everything he can to keep his composure. "I need to get rid of what I took."