Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“Someone’s gotta keep a lid on things while you’re gone. I want to make sure that there’ll still be a city for you to come back to.”</span> you said.
Vic scoffed at that. <span class="mu-g">“You’re not a goddamn Avenger, Ben. How’re you supposed to keep an entire city safe?”</span> she asked.
<span class="mu-r">“I’ve got friends, and they’ve got friends. I won’t be going at it alone.”</span> you argued.
Victoria rubbed her forehead and sighed wearily. <span class="mu-g">“You being purposefully vague is really starting to piss me off.”</span> she muttered. <span class="mu-g">“Just…keep me updated on what’s going on and what I should be looking out for.”</span>
You nodded. <span class="mu-r">“Of course. And the vacation?”</span>
Vic puffed out her cheeks and peered out the window, glancing at the insane traffic that had the roads all backed up. <span class="mu-g">“If you can find us a way out of the city, sure. But unless you’ve somehow learned to fly in the past few days, I don’t see that happening anytime soon.”</span> she said, before leaning in close. <span class="mu-g">“You can’t actually fly, right?”</span> she whispered.
You let out a light chuckle. <span class="mu-r">“Nah. I know someone who does, though. And another that glides, but I have no idea how that works.”</span> you said, shaking your head in mock disbelief.
You sister looked like she was trying to decide whether to shrug your comment off or take it at face value. Her thought process was quickly interrupted by Peter carrying over a ladle filled with hot soup for both of you to taste.
<span class="mu-g">“Ooh! Peter, sweetie, that’s way too hot! You’ll burn yourself.”</span> she protested, gingerly cradling the utensil and taking it from his hands. <span class="mu-g">“Let’s get this back over to the kitchen.”</span>
While Peter might have saved you from being interrogated, you knew that this conversation was far from over. You just hoped that your sister’s freshly made soup would take her mind off of things a bit. Everything’s been stressing her out so much recently, and it’s your fault for letting it affect her in the first place.
You were gonna have to keep a tighter lid on things going forward.
—--
Dinner was uneventful, but you wouldn’t have preferred it any other way. Peter was excited to have you eating at the table with him again. And Vic was too busy refining Cindy’s table manners to focus on you. However brief it was, it was a moment of peace. And you wouldn’t have traded it for anything in the world.
—-
After dinner, you volunteered to wash the dishes, and your nephew volunteered to help. You washed and Pete dried. There was a bit of light splashing here and there when Vic wasn’t looking, and you found yourself taking joy in the monotonous task. It was nice to be able to spend time with him like this again. The kid had a way of making the world seem brighter somehow.
<span class="mu-b">“Uncle Ben? Can I ask you something?”</span> Peter said after a period of silence.
<span class="mu-r">“Sure thing, Pete. Ask away.”</span> you said in an encouraging tone.
(Cont.)
