Author's Note: Welcome, one and all, to the long awaited sequel to "Let's Start at the Very Beginning." This is a teenager fic, featuring Peter, deaged!Loki, Tasia, Chloe, Matthew, and Markus. Maybe a few new kids as well? Are you all excited? I AM SUPER EXCITED! Read and enjoy!
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Chapter One
First Day of School
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Peter loved mornings. He loved that his alarm was set to play "The NaNoWriMo Song" by All Caps, and that his sheets were covered with scenes from Super Mario Brothers. He loved the sliver of New York sun that showed through his blinds, and the smell of pancakes cooking in the kitchen down the hall. But if there was one thing he loved most of all, it was waking up almost every morning with a warm body curled against his side.
He was almost sixteen years old, and had been a member of the family for twelve and a half blissful years. There was never a doubt in his mind that his Dads loved him, and that the rest of the family loved him as well.
Loki had nightmares. They had plagued him for as long as he could remember, and the only thing that seemed to help was snuggling his best friend. His mom had told him that he had always done what he did: have nightmare, get out of bed, take elevator up to penthouse, and proceed to climb into Peter's bed. Even when he was a kid he had braved the trip.
Peter stretched his arms above his head and slowly got out of bed. Loki still slept, and Peter went to go take a shower.
Twenty minutes later, when Peter emerged from the bathroom in boxers, Loki was sitting fully dressed on his freshly-made bed, petting Snugglemuffin and watching Adventure Time on the television.
"Gmrning," the younger boy muttered sleepily.
"Good morning," Peter replied, walking over to his closet. He grabbed a pair of dark wash skinny jeans, and a "Bowties are Cool" Tardis blue t-shirt before walking back out into the room. "Yes or no?"
Loki glanced at the clothing choices. "Gorgeous. Now hurry up, I want some of Uncle Steve's famous chocolate chip pancakes!"
The two teenagers walked into the kitchen a few minutes later, where Tasia and Matthew were already eating. Steve was flipping pancakes at the counter, wearing his "Kiss the Cook" apron.
"Morning honey," Steve said to his son, leaning over to kiss the boy's forehead. "You hungry?"
"Pops, I'm a growing boy. When am I not hungry?" Peter sat down at the table and took a couple pancakes of his own. Steve brought him over a mug of coffee, and some orange juice for Loki. "I'm never getting married, because I don't think I'll ever meet someone who makes pancakes this good."
"Hey, don't knock marriage until you try it!" Tony walked in. "Oh man, Capsicle. It's our baby's first day as a sophomore!"
Steve, who could detect the sarcasm in Tony's tone, glared at his husband. "Tony, be nice."
Loki instinctively grabbed Peter's hand under the table, and Peter took a bite of his pancakes.
Markus walked in, carrying his school bag. He dropped it by Matthew's and Tasia's before sitting down. "Mom's pissed at you," he said to his twin. "She wanted to look over your internship app before you sent it."
Matthew rolled his eyes. "At sixteen years of age, I am more than capable of filling out an application."
Tasia wasn't in high school yet. While Loki was a freshman, she was only entering the eighth grade. She was lucky to have older "cousins" that always included her. Her other half, Chloe (who was to be in the seventh grade that year), hadn't arrived yet, making her feel slightly awkward. Matthew noticed this and leaned over to tuck a strand of red hair behind her ear.
"You're gonna be fine," he said softly, "I promise."
This caused a slight smile.
"Petey, what's on your agenda for today?" Markus asked.
"Hm. Soccer is from 2:55-5:00, then come back here and start on homework, I guess. Probably help Dad with Dummy 6.0. Why?" Peter asked.
"Because there's gonna be a party tonight at Smash, and I wanted to see if you were going," Markus replied before turning to Matthew. "Mom said we could go."
Steve was about to respond, but Tony cut him off. "Of course he can go, Markus. Peter, take Loki. Have fun. Be home by midnight."
"Wow, uh, thanks Dad," Peter replied with a huge grin.
Chloe finally showed up, wearing a cute pair of plaid overalls over a white tank top. Her long brown hair was pulled up into a messy bun, and a pair of black oxfords adorned her feet.
"Morning everyone," she chirped happily as Steve brought her over some pancakes.
"Mornin' Chloe," Markus said with a smile.
Breakfast continued on, with the kids chattering, lunches being made, shoes getting pulled on, and goodbye kisses being given. Then, all six kids headed down to the garage so Happy could give them a ride to school.
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Jefferson Middle School was actually part of the same building as JHS, so they were all dropped off in the same place. Chloe and Tasia wandered off to sit with the other middle school kids in the gymnasium, while the boys walked towards the auditorium for the opening speech.
"Welcome to another year at Jefferson High School!" the principal, Mr. Gardner, said. "I see many familiar faces, and plenty of new ones. This should be a fantastic year."
They received their schedules, and the four quickly compared. They all had lunch together, and last-period study hall, but that was it for Loki.
"Text me, okay?" Peter said worriedly when he dropped Loki off by his English class. Loki nodded vigorously. "Go. Learn. Have fun."
And then Peter was alone. He walked to AP Calculus, an extremely advanced class for a sophomore, and chose a seat at the front of the room before checking his phone.
Loki: Because, folks, high school is bound to be the best years of your pathetic life!
Peter: Ah, Mrs. Webber. What a great teacher.
Loki: I wish I were older. I'm stuck in a class with people who don't like me.
Peter: I'm sorry, bb. I'm stuck in a class with all seniors. -_-
Loki: My best friend, the hipster genius.
Peter: My best friend, the crazy drama geek.
Loki: Always.
Peter: Okay can be our always. :)
Loki: Am I going to get in trouble if they catch me with my phone out?
Peter: As long as you mostly pay attention then no.
Peter grabbed a copy of the syllabus and a sheet of factoring practice problems before turning back to his phone.
Loki: My parents are already texting to make sure I'm alright.
Peter: I'm shocked Pops hasn't yet. Dad probably told him not to.
Loki: I love our family, but holy bananas, overprotective much?
Peter: HOLY BANANAS!
Loki: I WAS FRAMED... BY THE SKINSUITED MAN!
Peter: Ah, the joys of a good game of Clue.
Loki: ;P
Peter: Gotta do some calc problems. I'll be back in like 5 minutes.
He looked down at the sheet and grinned. Math came easy to him. 'Two X cubed minus three X squared minus eleven X plus six,' he thought. 'Piece of cake.'
When the factoring problems were finished, Peter turned back to his phone.
Pops: How's your first day going?
Peter: It's only first period, Pops.
Pops: Annnd? What's your first class?
Peter: AP Calculus.
Pops: Your Dad and I are both very proud of you.
Loki: Okie dokie. Have fun.
Peter: I'm back. How's English?
Loki: Don't even ask.
Peter: Okay.
Loki: Okay.
Peter: GEEZ HAZEL STOP FLIRTING WITH ME!
Loki: Uoy evol I.
Peter: Uoy oot.
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Steve didn't like how empty the apartment felt. Tony was in the lab and Peter was at school and even Snugglemuffin was nowhere to be found. He found himself looking through the old photo album from the first year after they adopted their son.
Peter was so small then. In so many ways, he was the same. Same lanky body, still tall for his age. The sticky-uppy brown hair was still there, and he wore glasses to help with his vision problems. He still kissed his Dads' cheeks every night before bed.
"Hey honey," Tony said when he walked into the kitchen. "Oh wow." He smiled down at the pictures. "There's our baby."
Steve shifted a bit to kiss his husband's warm and inviting mouth. "Can you believe he'll be sixteen in a couple months? I just... It still amazes me."
"I think I'm gonna buy him a car." Tony replied. "He's responsible. He's smart."
"He's caring, and loving," Steve added. "And he would love the freedom of a car."
Tony ran his hand through Steve's sandy blonde hair and pulled him closer. The two men embraced lovingly for a few more moments.
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Loki's favorite part of the day was when Peter bought him an ice cream sandwich at lunch. They sat with the twins and some of their other friends, including MJ Watson, Gwen Stacy, Wade Wilson, and Harry Osborn.
"So, Loki, how're you enjoying your freshman year?" Wade asked.
"It's okay. Kinda boring, but it's only the first day," Loki took a small bite of the ice cream before offering some to MJ, who also took a bite. "Are you guys going to the party tonight?"
"I know I am," Gwen smiled. "And I'm giving Harry and MJ a ride. Wade, I can pick you up too, if you want."
"Sure," Wade said.
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The way Peter's hair looked in sunlight, where the little bits of burgundy were truly noticeable. The way he moved across the field as they worked play after play, drill after drill. These were all things that Loki noticed as he watched the soccer practice after school. He was sitting on the bleachers, pretending to read "The Hobbit" but really watching, intently.
"WHY IS IT SO HOT!" a boy named Sammy Truman remarked. "THE SUN GOD MUST HATE US!"
And that's when Peter pulled off his shirt. "If it's so fugging hot, take off your shirt, idiot." And he returned to the field.
Loki blushed and looked away. 'What the hell, Loki?' he asked himself. 'It's just Peter! Your BEST FRIEND!'
But even he couldn't deny it: there was a hidden part of the younger boy that yearned for Peter to be his. It wasn't fair that the ninja rings they'd exchanged as kids didn't apply anymore (despite the fact that they both still wore them). But Loki knew that Peter would never go for someone like him.
Practice was over not long later. Peter put back on his shirt, and Happy arrived to take the four boys back to the tower. Peter slid his fingers into Loki's without thinking about it. They stayed that way until Peter had to take a shower, fifteen minutes later, and Loki went down one floor to where his family was.
"Hey Mom," he said when he entered. He kicked off his high-tops and grabbed a cookie from the plate on the counter.
Darcy smiled. "Hi baby boy. How was school?"
"... Fine, I guess," he shrugged. Bruce looked at him over the top of his glasses. "I'm gonna go get ready for the party tonight. And then go up to Pete's for some homework." Loki grabbed another cookie and hurried from the room.
Bruce put down his notepad. "I'm telling you now, he's in love with that boy. And there's no doubt in my mind that Peter feels the same way."
Darcy kissed her husband's cheek.
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Author's Note: Sorry for the super mega delay. Next chapter will be the party and the after-party scenes, so be on the lookout! :)