Chapter Text
It was the same as any other night. Later in the evening, Peter sitting on the couch in the main room, listening to the group debate what they should have for dinner.
Most days, it was typically already planned out. But they had just arrived back from an unusually short mission, leaving early that morning and only returning when it got dark. So, no plans were made.
Well, Peter did have plans, but that was before their return. He was going to go out to eat with Stephen and Pepper, one of the few people who didn’t go, but now with all the commotion that wasn’t gonna happen.
And he was kinda looking forward to going out.
Their bicker was starting to make him feel tense. He knew they wouldn’t actually start fighting each other, but it still bothered him when voices were raised. Even in a more playful matter, picking on one another.
Natasha had seemed to notice, as she left the group standing around the kitchen island, joining him in the seat next to him. “Are you feeling ok, лапочка?”
“Yeah, I’m alright.” He lied. Just a force of habit he couldn’t shake.
“We both know that’s not true.” Her voice was low and gentle, like it always was when she was concerned for him. “What’s on your mind?”
Peter let out a short sigh, “Voices,” he admitted.
“Yeah, everyone’s being a little loud right now, hm?” Nat looked over her shoulder at the group, before turning back to face him. Yep, they were still arguing. “Do you have any suggestions?”
“For dinner?” Peter asked. Nat nodded in response. He averted his gaze nervously, pulling his knees up to him on the couch. “Well, I don’t know. I was kinda looking forward to going out with mom and dad today, before plans were changed.”
“Hm, I see.” Nat hummed. “Why don’t we go out, then? Just us two, how does that sound?”
Peter blinked in surprise, looking up at her from where his eyes fixated on the floor. “Really?”
She smiled, “Really. Anywhere you want to go, лапочка.”
“Oh, well,” He hesitated, “I don’t know where to go, exactly…”
“That’s ok, you can figure it out on the way.”
Nat stood up, making her way towards the foyer where the elevators were. Peter stood and followed without a word, before stopping as the elevator dinged its arrival.
“Uh, shouldn’t we tell them we’re going?” He pointed behind him, towards the kitchen.
Nat waved it off, “They’ll figure it out eventually.”
Wouldn’t their disappearance cause some kind of panic?
“Uh, alright,” Peter murmured, stepping into the elevator behind Nat.
Halfway down to the garage after watching Peter nervously twiddle with his fingers, Nat spoke up. “Don’t worry, I’ll text Tony once we get to the car.”
“Oh, good,” Peter said, perking up as if he didn’t just almost have a mini freak out, about possibly freaking out the others.
-
Nat had been driving them around for about fifteen minutes now, but she didn’t comment on it. They sat in comfortable silence as Peter looked at his phone, trying to figure out what sounded good.
Something that preferably wasn’t that expensive. Fancy food wasn’t that great, he learned. And definitely not somewhere with pizza. He never thought he would get ever tired of pizza, but living with the Avengers, it was always their go-to when no one felt like cooking. It probably would’ve been what they ended up agreeing on, if he and Nat hadn’t left.
He ended up pulling up Facebook, which was a shocker actually. Peter never used it that often, but he was in some local groups. They advertised good restaurants and diners around the city, sometimes. Places with good deals and the promise of equally good food.
Scrolling through one page, his eyes caught on one of the posts. It was an advertisement of a reputable deli, he gathered as he read. The place didn’t seem to have any seating, but all the comments said nothing but good things about the place. And it seemed… weirdly familiar.
“Why not here?” Peter spoke up, turning his phone to show Nat.
She took a long look at the phone, probably reading the whole thing. Which was definitely dangerous, because you know, she was driving and all. But it didn’t seem to phase her in the slightest.
“Hm, sounds good. All the way out in Queens?”
“Oh,” Peter pulled his phone back, reading it over again. How did he miss that he was looking at a page for Queens? Isn’t that a little far? “Yeah, uh, is that ok?”
“Of course, I don’t mind the drive. Give those boneheads time to cool down before we get back.”
“Yeah,” Peter snickered, “I bet they just gave up and decided to order pizza like always.”
The drive there didn’t actually feel that long, but Peter had also been looking at his phone most of the time. Not doing anything important really, just refreshing social media over and over again.
“We’re here.” Nat spoke up, pulling Peter’s eyes up from his phone. They were parked just outside of the place on the curb. It was dark out, now, the sun having just gone down. The lights from inside the shop illuminating the sidewalk outside.
They both got out of the car, Natasha walking around the car from the driver’s side to stand next to Peter. Walking into the shop, it was a quaint store. Just like any other corner store he’d seen, really, except for the counter and menu on the wall to the side.
“Evening!” A bearded man called out from behind the counter, hearing the doorbell chime as they entered. “Here for a sandwich, or just browsing?”
Before either of them could respond, a voice from the back of the door spoke up. “Hey, Mr. Delmar, I just finished stocking the back shelves and I’m-” A boy, er, young adult? Same-age looking person as Peter, was talking to the man. He’d stepped out from behind the shelves of snacks, and was now looking at both him and Nat with wide eyes.
Oh crap, did he recognize her or something?
“Hey, Natasha!” He stepped forward, holding out a hand to shake. Why did he sound so friendly ? Shouldn’t he be like, freaking out, if he recognized the Black Widow? Nat returned the handshake, taking his hand. “What’re you doing all the way out here?!”
“Taking a break from the Avengers,” Nat replied easily, voice lowering. “This is your dayjob?”
Huh? They knew each other?
The boy looked back and forth between her and Peter, obviously thinking something to himself as he hesitated to respond. He must have come to some decision on it as he opened his mouth. “Oh, you know, have to keep it modest.”
“Mhm,” Nat smiled at him.”Peter, this is Ned. Ned, this is Peter.” She introduced the two to each other.
“Uhm, hi?” Peter greeted, unsure. “Uh, how do you know Nat?”
“Hm, uh, well,” Ned was fumbling his words, Nat speaking up in his place.
“I’ll tell you later, лапочка.” She spoke to Peter, sharing a look with Ned for a moment before breaking eye contact. “We’re here for some dinner, actually.”
“Oh?” Ned’s brows furrowed, “Are you, like, ordering for everyone, orr…”
“Just me and Pete.”
“Really? Skipping out on spending time with the Avengers? Man, if that was me, I would never-” Ned stopped, realizing he was beginning to ramble, “Er, sorry, Ms. Romanov. I meant that with all due respect, ma’am.”
Nat let out a chuckle. “Of course, Ned, of course.” She led the way towards the counter, Peter following behind, and Ned following behind him. “What do you want from here, Peter?”
Peter hummed, looking up at the board with the menu. He hadn’t been thinking about it. At all.
“Uh, just the number one?” It was just a regular ham and cheese sandwich, but if reviews were true, then anything here would probably be just as good.
“Ooh,” Ned said, “The number one? I recommend getting pickles on that. It sounds kinda weird, but it’s actually kinda good. You’d probably like it!”
Peter would be lying if he said he didn’t think the guy was starting to get kind of annoying. He didn’t know why, but he was.
“What kind of bread?” The gruff man asked him.
He looked up at the board again, looking at the options for bread. “Just flat bread, please.” Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Ned’s expression shift into almost hurt. Ugh, fine. Peter didn’t like him that much, but he didn’t want to make him upset . “With pickles.” He added.
“Sure thing,” The man behind the counter nodded.
Natasha ordered her sandwich and paid. The two stood around for a few minutes after that, waiting for their food. With the addition of Ned, of course. The guy had started talking to Nat again, but Peter didn’t listen in. He was seriously getting a little annoying.
“Oh!” Ned exclaimed suddenly. It caught Peter off guard, making him look up from his phone he was scrolling through. “I, uh, actually have to get home. My mom will get worried if I stay out too late, and it’s already dark, so.”
“Stay safe, and tell your mom I said hi, alright?” Sarcasm in Nat’s voice.
Ned rolled his eyes, making a pshh sound. “You know I would if I could! Bye, Mr. Delmar, I’ll see you tomorrow!”
And just like that, he was gone. Behind the two, the man who was supposedly Mr. Delmar cleared his throat, making them both turn around. “Here’s your order, enjoy your meal. And come back soon, you hear?”
Both of them saying their thanks, they took their wrapped sandwiches and headed out the door.