a gif of James and Steve sharing the same energy. lol.

like dad, like son?

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ C H A P T E R  N I N E T E E N ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

"So, three tomatoes are walking down the street⁠— a poppa tomato, a momma tomato, and a little baby tomato. Baby tomato starts lagging behind. Poppa tomato gets angry, goes over to the baby tomato, smooshes him, and says... catch up."

Clint, Thor and Vision only stared at him.

Rhodey repeated again, "Get it? Catch up because y'know, ketchup."

"That's it?" Clint asked in confusion.

"That's the whole story?" Thor added.

"Yes... again I ask myself, why am I even talking to you guys?" Rhodey remarked, displeased, "I'm certain to hell that story kills."

"Well, it is rather interesting. A family of tomatoes is quite funny, actually." Vision said, laughing.

"Dude, that's not even the point of the joke." Rhodey deadpanned.

It was at that point Tony decides to buzz in on them. He clasped a hand on Rhodey's shoulder, "You still not over the jokes?"

Rhodey scoffed, "Come on, the only one who doesn't get my humor is you guys. Everyone loves them." He then noticed the lady around Tony's arm, "Hey, Pep."

Pepper smiled in response. "You guys enjoying the party so far?"

"Oh, yes! Great party. I love all the beverages." Thor exclaimed, taking another sip of his drink. "However, it still doesn't beat Asgardian liquor."

Before Tony could go, Clint asked him, "Say, have you seen your mini-agents around?"

Tony didn't know what he was talking about. "Who?"

Clint almost rolled his eyes. Tony was easily distracted most of the times. "Allie and James."

His face filled with recognition. "Oh, right, my bad. Yeah, they're probably dancing around. They came with us here."

"Cool! Alright, it's time for me to lay low." Clint put down his empty glass, "I need to slow down on the drinks before the actual party starts. I don't want a repeat of last time."

Thor laughed, remembering the incident too well. "It's funny how small Misgardian underwear can be."

"Shut it, Thor."

—————————————————————————————   

"Have you seen her?" 

James looked around before shaking his head in response. "Nope. No sign of her. Maybe she's not coming?"

"Oh, come on, mom? She wouldn't pass up Uncle Tony's party. Dad's even here, and that says a lot." Allie chastised.

He only shrugged, then stopped short when he saw quite a familiar face among the crowd. "Hey, look,"

"What?" Allie followed his gaze, nudging him when she couldn't see what he was talking about. "What, James?"

"Is that... is he?"

Some kid was standing next to Tony. He was happily conversing with him till Tony spotted them from the distance. He raised a hand and called out to them, "Hey mini-vengers! Come over, I'd like you to meet someone!"

Allie's jaw almost dropped. A grin made its way to her face. She couldn't believe it. "No way."

"Yeah, way." James said, before they made their way to them.

Tony did the liberty of introducing the kid to them. "Allie, James, this is Peter Parker. Peter, you know who they are."

James and Allie had to hold themselves back from making a fuss out of this. They just blinked away the disbelief that they were actually seeing Spiderman just as young as them.

"Hi, nice to meet you." Peter offered his hand, sounding nervous and jittery.

"Likewise," James said, shaking his hand.

Peter turned to Allie, smiling cheekily. "And you, hello."

She couldn't help but think it was adorable. She chuckled, "Hello." 

"So you're..." James pretended to think for a second, "You're the spider-guy aren't you? In Youtube? Spiderboy?"

Peter turned faint pink. "Spiderman, actually." He scratched the back of his neck, obviously embarrassed. 

"Oh, so are you like... one of them now? The Avengers?" Allie asked.

Peter blanked out, "I-I don't know but... yeah, basically. I guess? Right, Mr. Stark?" 

Tony smiled but shook his head. "No, not yet."

Peter only nodded as quickly as Tony disagreed. "Right, right. Not yet. I'll probably just stay on the ground, for a little while." He smiled, "Friendly neighborhood Spiderman."

Tony patted his back lightly. "Good answer. Just a couple more and it won't be long till you're promoted.

Allie and James couldn't help but laugh when they saw the look of excitement on Peter's face.

"Well, I'll leave you kids to it. I better get this party started anyway if I don't want a repeat of what happened last year." Tony said, excusing himself before disappearing among the wave of people.

James turned to Peter. "Last year?"

Peter only shrugged. "This is the first time I've been to his parties."

"Wait, I'm curious, when and how did you and Mr. Stark meet?" James asked, grabbing a handful of chips from one of the counters.

"Oh, it's a funny story, actually." Peter chuckled, "I don't know exactly how he found out about me but... well, it's Tony Stark so, no surprise there."

James and Allie couldn't agree more.

"Anyway, I got home from school one time and he was just literally sitting there in our living room talking with my aunt." Peter explained, his face lighting up as he recalled the memory. He still couldn't believe it until now. "I asked him the most obvious question, 'why was he here?' And then he told me that he was keeping an eye out for potential..."

"Agents?" Allie asked.

"Something like that. I thought he was offering me a place in SHIELD or something, but no. He said that I wasn't a SHIELD-esque agent type or whatever that means. He told me I was more of a... umm..." 

James raised an eyebrow, a smirk plastered on his face, as he filled in for him. "More of a Next Avengers type?"

Peter stammered, "O-oh. I don't know about that, really."

Allie chirped, "Come on! I totally see you as one of the Next Avengers! And besides, Mr. Stark said it himself earlier, that 'you're getting there'." 

Truth be told, back in their time, Peter would sometimes help them out, the Next Avengers, with one of their missions. It seemed logical, though, considering he was the Avenger closest to their age, it made sense to have him direct them, sometimes even command them, through their missions. 

But it was more of a once in a while help than a consistent one because Peter was busy fighting his own battles too. 

Overall, he was a pretty cool guy to hang around with.

Peter blushed at their appraising words. "I don't want to let it go to my head again. I've learned my lesson about that. But, thanks, really."

James popped another chip to his mouth, already finishing the entire bowl. "No problem, man."

Allie pointed out, "You're gonna lose your appetite from eating all that junk."

James snorted, pointing his thumb at her while looking at Peter. "Such a buzzkill."

Peter laughed when Allie smacked her brother in the arm. "Hey, but enough about me, how 'bout you guys? I know Mr. Stark recruits a lot of super people but he seemed pretty excited about you."

Allie brushed it off casually. "Eh. It's nothing. We're just glad we got to make a good impression." Her attention suddenly went downhill when she spotted another familiar face in the crowd. Unconsciously, a smile made its way to her face.

"What are you gawking at?" James asked, eyebrows furrowed together.

She rolled her eyes. "Nothing. Would you boys excuse me for a sec?"

With that, she went off dramatically, leaving the two boys to catch up. When James finally saw where she went to, or rather, to whom did she went to, he couldn't help but sigh.

Peter noticed his discomfort and asked, "What's wrong?"

"My sister." James clicked his tongue, "She has a stupid crush on this guy that could never be hers, anyway."

Peter 'ooed' in response. "Damn, that's gotta burn." That got a smile out of him. "Why? The dude has a girl, already?"

"Nah." James shook his head, "We can't stay here for long."

Peter looked confused. "But didn't you both just got here?"

Surprisingly, James was able to lie smoothly this time. Maybe lying just takes some time to get to used to. "Yeah, but we got to get back home soon. Our stay here is more like umm... summer break."

Peter seemed to get it now. "Oh, cool."

"How 'bout you?" It was strange talking to Peter as if they were best mates. Even if he does treat Peter more as their friend than their uncle in their time, it still felt pretty weird seeing him as the same age as they are now. "You got a girl back home?"

He laughed. "I wish. I'm invisible at school."

James would've never thought that. Compared to other guys living in this deceased world, Peter looked good enough to catch a girl's attention. "Really? You?"

"Yep. People aren't that much interested in Peter Parker as they are with Spiderman, apparently."

"Well, that sucks. Must be tough living a double life, huh?"

"Tell me about it." Peter took a sip of his drink—non-alcoholic, by the way, "But there is someone. Her name's uh... MJ." James' ears perked at that. MJ? Mary Jane? But he thought that Peter doesn't date Mary Jane until... "It's short for Michelle Jones."

Oh.

"Schoolmate?" He asked dumbly. Of course, James. Where else could they possibly meet?

Peter nodded. "She's pretty amazing. She likes Science too."

"Then why aren't you dating her?"

"Me? Date her? No, no. That'd be..." He waved it off, like the idea was close to crazy. "She's not interested in me."

"Well, you won't know if you won't try, dude. There's no harm in asking. If it doesn't work then you can still be friends."

Peter arched an eyebrow, amused, "I'm sorry, are you like, a dating expert? You seem to be know a lot about it."

James shrugged. "Let's just say I've gone out with a few girls myself too."

"Figures. What school do you go to, anyway?"

"Uh..." Crap. He couldn't tell him that he also go to Midtown High. It wouldn't make sense. Think, Rogers. Think. Any school other than Midtown High... Mid... "East High."

What did he just say?

"East high?" Peter repeated, looking surprised just as he was.

East high? Where the hell did that come from James Grant Rogers? 

"Isn't that like in... Utah?"

Yes, it is. And that you actually need to get a flight from New York if you want to be there in four hours. Seemed like you had jinxed your lying skills, Rogers. Great job.

No backing out now. "Yeah," James stated, more firmly this time. "We're a really long way from home."

Peter snapped his fingers as if he remembered something. "Oh! And isn't that the school where that Disney movie was set... what was it... the musical?" 

"High School Musical?" James said, sounding unsure himself. Then realization dawned over his face. Oh, that's why East High sounded familiar coming out of his mouth. 

"Yeah, the one where Zac Efron was dancing with a basketball." Peter remarked.

Both boys laughed at this. 

—————————————————————————————   

"Wait, so let me get this straight..." Sam trailed off, gesturing between the two. "You guys broke up?"

Steve shifted uncomfortably. The topic was obviously not appropriate to talk about in a party. Not to mention they had to practically shout to hear one another through the loud music.

Sharon laughed uneasily, "That's what I said."

"You're joking, right?" Sam sputtered, still in disbelief. "Why? How? When?"

"I don't think now would be a good time to talk about this." Sharon replied, forcing a smile. "Let's just try to enjoy the night?"

She, too, found the situation extremely uncomfortable. Especially if the breakup was just a fresh wound she got this morning. 

"But—"

"Sam." Steve cut him off, sending a pleading look to just drop it.

Sam sighed in defeat. "Fine."

A few seconds passed in silence. Despite the loud music blaring its way to their eardrums, the silence was more deafening to be in.

Maria cleared her throat, attempting to save themselves from the death of awkwardness, "Stark better turn this party up now or else everyone's going to be drunk before it even starts."

"I think the dude moon-dancing on top of the counter already is." Sam noticed.

Maria checked her phone. "God, and where is Natasha, by the way? We've been here for half an hour now and she's still MIA."

Steve pretended not to notice, but the mention of the redhead's name got his attention pretty quick. Good thing he was subtle about it. 

Sharon had the same response too, but she, obviously, wasn't too keen about Natasha as Steve was to her. Well, considering with what just happened between the former couple, Sharon had every right to be.

"She's probably with Bruce." She can't help but bit out, sounding a little bit icier than she intended to.

Steve stiffened at that, and he didn't know if it was because of the thought of Natasha with Bruce? Or the fact that his ex (Sharon) was purposely emphasizing the fact of it? 

Probably both.

"You guys don't need to worry 'bout that now." Sam intervened, nodding at the sight behind them. His eyes focusing on the figure at the top of the staircase. "Here she comes."

Steve's eyes mirrored that of a camera lens, going through the landscape until it finally finds what it's looking for—its subject. The background blurred, filling with faded circles as it contrasts the clarity of the woman before him. His lens focused, locking its place on the subject, not once glancing away from such a beauty. He snapped portraits of her, forever securing the image of her in his memory tucked in a deep part of his mind—one that he's sure he'll never forget. 

Sam's jaw dropped. "Damn."

"She looks beautiful." Maria said in awe.

Steve smiled warmly, eyes not once leaving the sight of her. "Yeah, she is." he muttered to himself.

She was downright breathtaking. There were no better words to describe how Natasha Romanoff made everyone's eyes turn to her (even the drunk moon-dancing dude).  

"She really knows how to make an entrance." Sam remarked.

"It's Natasha, what do you expect?" Maria asked rhetorically.

Sharon definitely noticed the way Steve's face lit up like a thousand spotlights as soon as he saw Natasha, and she definitely noticed the way it dimmed just as quickly when he saw Bruce at the end of the staircase waiting for her.

A bitter feeling erupted in her chest. Steve had never looked at her that way before even while they were dating. It was heartbreaking to realize it now.

Maybe it was a mistake to go with Steve tonight. She thought that she could still turn the tables over, probably make him realize that it was a mistake that he let her go, but she could see now that it wasn't going to happen anytime soon.

Steve was clearly in love with Natasha.

And she wasn't Natasha.

—————————————————————————————   

"All right, all right. Settle down people of the world!" Tony said through the mic. He was at the second floor, leaning over the balcony. Pepper was standing next to him. "As much as I think how cute Miss Black Widow's entrance is earlier, I think the more important thing here is to remind everyone that this is a no-smoking zone, okay? If you want to smoke, feel free to do it outside the terrace, alright? And no weed please. This isn't high school."

Pepper elbowed him, telling him to stop messing around even for just a second. "Fine, fine." Tony grumbled, rubbing his side, "I really have no clue what to say because there's nothing really we're supposed to do at a party other than getting drunk, so," He raised his wine glass, making a toast, "Here's to us getting wasted."

Everyone joined him, laughing and cheering in unison.

"Enjoy the night! And I'm serious about the weed."

Someone shouted from the crowd a "Got it, Mr. Stark!"

Tony grinned, pleased with himself. "Have fun, kids! I'm gonna give a cash prize to the person who impresses me with their dance moves."

As soon as he and Pepper got back down, they were amused to see people indeed dancing their hearts out on the dance floor.

"See? Look what you did to these poor kids." Pepper said, barely containing her laughter.

Tony pulled out his phone, going to his IG app, "I'm going to put this on my story." When he had finished uploading the video, he heard Pepper asked him something. Though he didn't quite catch it first. "What was that, hon?"

"I said, who is that?" 

"Who?"

"That lady. Over there. She isn't a face I know."

Tony followed her gaze. His tongue poked the inside of his cheek, face scrunched up in confusion. "Who is the hot lady wearing a suit?"

Pepper gave him a sharp look.

"Just asking." Tony defended innocently.

"I think she's coming this way. Please be nice."

"Pep, nice is my middle name." 

As soon as the woman approached them, she gave them a warm smile. "Good evening, Mr. Stark, Ms. Potts."

"I'd greet you too unfortunately, I have no idea who you are." Tony said.

"Oh, right, I'm sorry." She looked guilty. "I hope you don't mind but I kind of, just, came here with my cousin because he's invited."

"Your cousin?"

"Scott Lang." She answered, "He's supposed to be here. He told me he was. Somewhere." She glanced around, which was pretty pointless considering the plenty people surrounding them. 

It was Pepper who asked this time, "And your name is...?" 

"Lana." She supplied, flashing a kind smile. "Lana lang."

"Wait... that name sounds like I've read it somewhere before." Tony drifted off.

Suddenly, and completely out of nowhere, Peter Parker and James Rogers appeared from both their sides. 

Tony jumped in surprise James had clasped his shoulder. "What the fuck." 

"Sorry." James squinted his eyes in embarrassment. "We can't help but overhear."

"Excuse me, but are you really Lana Lang?" Peter piped in.

Lana chuckled. "Last time I checked, yeah."

Peter averted his gaze back to James, telling him promptly, "See? I knew it. I told you it was her." 

"Wait, back up, what is going on here?" Tony said, fixing his glasses that had almost fallen off from James' surprise attack. "And since when had you two became the best of friends?"

James ignored the latter part of what Tony said. "Peter told me that she's a superhero—superhuman kind too."

"What?" Pepper and Tony asked simultaneously.

"She's the Angel!" Peter said proudly, like he had the right answer in class, "Right? You're the Angel fighting the bad guys in Africa?"

For a second, Peter wondered if he overstepped the line, because Lana clearly didn't expect to hear that come out from his mouth. But his worries quickly died down when she smiled back, looking impressed.

"Angel of the Plateau, actually, and yes that is me." Lana corrected, chuckling when Peter heaved a sigh of relief.

"I see you did your homework, young man." Tony said, complimenting Peter, who was now a blushing mess.

"Lana!" A voice called out. Surprisingly enough, it was Scott. 

James laughed heartily when he felt Tony jumped, startled. Tony glared at him but James paid him no attention. He couldn't help it. "I'm sorry, you just... your face when you're startled is just..." And he descended into a fit of laughter.

Tony flicked his ear.

"Hey, cous, I've been looking for you for the past ten minutes where were you?" Scott asked her.

"I was kind of... caught up in something." Lana nodded her head to the direction of the people in front of them.

"Oh," Scott said, suddenly rambling on, "I'm sorry, Mr. Stark., if I invited her without asking—I was really planning to ask you this via text or give you a call, maybe? But then I thought 'What was I thinking calling Tony Stark? That man probably receives tons of calls a day and is busy enough to—"

"Yeah, Scott. It's fine. Don't worry." Tony stopped him. As soon as the people around them were conversed in their own little bubble, he leaned over to whisper to James, "Where's your sister?"

"Probably dancing around with her crush." James answered honestly.

"Yikes." Tony remarked, "Find her then, because it's time."

James looked confused. "For what?"

Tony nodded in the direction where Steve and Natasha were supposedly where. He had asked Clint to keep an eye out for the two, and now that they were finally talking again, they needed to do it now for the plan to work.

"You really think it's the right time?" James asked.

"Oh, definitely."

"Remind me again what's the plan going to be?"

Tony gave him a side way smirk. 

"Have you ever seen the movie "Enchanted"?"

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ E N D O F C H A P T E R ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Sorry if this lacked Romanogers and the siblings' moments! I guarantee that the next chapter would be full of them ;)

Oh, and thanks guys for keeping in touch with my updates and bearing with me because my updates take... well... like forever lol. I'm really sorry! I'm always waiting for the right time to write chapters for my stories (usually when I'm inspired or smthn) so my drafts would end up having decent quality.

This story is almost nearing its end though. Just heads up. 

It seems that Steve and Sharon had (FINALLY) broken up, what do you think's going to happen next hmm? ;)

Please leave comments and votes guys! Thank you to everyone who's leaving me motivating msgs and witty comments. It's fun reading them :)

Luv u all!