The atmosphere in the lounge was calm, even warm. Wanda floated a steaming mug of cocoa toward herself, legs curled on the couch next to Vision. Clint and Sam bickered over who actually won their last game of pool while Carol smugly watched, clearly having beaten them both earlier. Natasha lounged in a sleek leather chair, observing everything in her usual silent, sharp way.

Then the door slid open.

Peter stepped in, backpack slung over one shoulder, hair windswept from the flight home. His expression, however, wasn’t his usual mix of dorky excitement and wide-eyed awe. No, today he looked... resigned.

Right behind him walked Ethan Cross.

Ethan was all swagger, pressed school uniform shirt unbuttoned at the top in defiance of the dress code, sleeves rolled to expose a designer watch. His smirk was permanently plastered in place, the kind that made people uncomfortable without knowing why. He radiated entitlement like it was his cologne.

And the Avengers noticed.

Peter’s voice cracked slightly as he mumbled, “Hey guys… this is Ethan. We’re, uh… working on a school project together. He’s gonna be here for a few hours.”

Ethan gave a little wave, not really looking at anyone—just enough motion to acknowledge their presence without showing respect. “Sup.”

There was a beat of silence.

Thor, sitting beside Loki with a giant bowl of grapes in his lap, tilted his head. “You bring an enemy to your home, Spiderling?”

Peter gave a weak laugh. “Not an enemy, just a… classmate.”

Shuri, sitting cross-legged on the carpet with T’Challa reviewing something on a StarkPad, muttered without looking up, “You looked like you wanted to phase through the wall when you walked in.”

Ethan looked around the room, clearly realizing where he was. His brow rose, eyes widening slightly as they landed on Tony, then Carol, then Bruce. His voice lowered, cocky and calculated. “Damn. So it’s true. You really live here.”

Peter didn’t respond. His backpack thudded on the floor as he headed toward the lounge table, dropping his notes and tablet in place. Ethan trailed behind slowly, eyes drinking in the details of the compound like he might steal something just to say he did.

Bruce looked at Peter with a quiet frown. “You okay, kid?”

Peter gave a small nod, but it was brittle. “Yeah. Just… school stuff.”

Clint narrowed his eyes, chewing on a toothpick as he watched Ethan practically ooze smugness. “So what kind of project are we talking about? Science? Literature? Infiltration?”

“History,” Peter muttered. “Presentation on the Sokovia Accords.”

Loki let out a low whistle from the corner, lounging upside down on a floating armchair. “Oh, that’s rich. You’re pairing a known instigator with Parker for a report on accountability?”