Marvel: Father of Superheroes

Support me and be 30 chapters ahead of webnovel:

patreon.com/Draco_

*****

One month later, at dusk.

"We're home!"

Gwen stood at the front door and shouted.

Mike and Raven got out of the car. Smiling at Gwen, Mike said, "Let's go inside."

Raven nodded warmly, her eyes fixed on the house before them, a sense of comfort filling her heart.

This… this was home.

"Dinner time!" Gwen called again, yelling, "Dad! I want dinner! It's been ages since I had your cooking!"

"Alright."

Mike waved his hand and said, "Tell me what you want—anything goes!"

Before Gwen could respond, the door swung open and Thor stepped out.

"You're back," he said excitedly, clutching his double chin. "I just heard someone mention dinner. I'd like boiled cabbage."

"Boil your head!"

Mike laughed and scolded, pointing at Thor. "You're getting pickier by the day."

This guy—learning to cook while eating non-stop. His culinary skills had improved, sure, but his appetite had grown even more—and so had his picky taste.

The God of Thunder...

He was starting to look more like the God of the Kitchen.

Mike imagined Thor back in Asgard, wielding a wok in one hand and a spatula in the other, fighting enemies mid-cook…

Yikes!

Mike suddenly had the ominous feeling that Odin might show up one day to settle the score.

Gwen glared at the increasingly round Thor and snapped, "Look at how fat you've gotten, and you're still eating?"

Where was her ripped, eight-pack Thor-brother now?!

Thor smiled and patted his plump belly as if it were nothing. "I'm not fat."

All three—Mike, Gwen, and Raven—stared at Thor's stomach and let out a synchronized snort of laughter.

Following their gaze, Thor looked down at himself. His face stiffened, and he quickly stopped rubbing his belly, then took a deep breath.

Failure.

Thor: (￣ー￣)

Had he really gotten that fat?

Still… if Mike really made that boiled cabbage…

Thor licked his lips.

Gwen shook her head, disappointed and full of righteous fury. "No one in this house has ever looked as ugly as you do now."

Thor: (Д)ノ

"How was your trip?" Mike asked.

Thor beamed. "Jane likes me even more now! She said my cooking is great—I'm a real family man."

Family man…?

You're the God of Thunder! The God of Thunder!

How did a few months turn you into this?

Mike raised his head and let out a long sigh, shaking it in disbelief.

"Whatever. Let's go inside. I'm starving too."

"Yay! Time for delicious food!" Gwen cheered.

Just as the three were about to step forward, several people emerged from the neighboring yards.

Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter.

Tony Stark, Maria Hill, and Pepper Potts.

Steve beamed as he looked at Mike's family. "Heard you're cooking something good?"

Peggy Carter enthusiastically waved and ran over to them.

"Come on! Let's play mahjong! It's been ages—my hands are itching for it!"

Maria jogged over too, waving excitedly. She grabbed Peggy's hands and exclaimed, "What a coincidence! I haven't played in forever either!"

They both turned to Mike and said in unison, "Don't you dare run! Play a couple of rounds with us later!"

Mike nodded with a smile. Noticing Raven's puzzled expression, he leaned in and whispered, "Mahjong. An ancient game. I'll teach you later."

Raven nodded in understanding.

Steve watched Peggy and Maria spin around hand in hand with such excitement that he couldn't help but show a helpless smile.

Some things… just can't be avoided.

Tony walked over hand-in-hand with Pepper Potts.

"Hey! Uncle Mike, did you come back today on purpose just because you knew I'd be here?"

Mike looked at him and said, "Who are you again?"

Tony: "…"

Pfft!

Pepper couldn't help but laugh as she watched Tony deflate.

"Haha!"

Mike chuckled and patted Tony on the shoulder. "Relax, just messing with you."

Tony: (`へ)ノ*

"What are you guys doing here?" Mike asked curiously.

"This is my house, I—"

Smack!

Maria smacked the back of Tony's head. "It's my house!"

Tony: "…"

He felt personally attacked.

"It's also Pepper's house," Maria added, turning toward Pepper Potts with a warm, motherly smile.

Pepper glanced at Tony, then suddenly let go of his hand with a look of mock disdain and clung to Maria's arm instead.

Tony: "…"

He was definitely being targeted!

Everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Maria quickly explained, "This silly boy happened to bring Pepper over to see me today. They've made things official—this is actually the first time Tony's brought a girlfriend home."

Upon hearing that, Pepper blushed and lowered her head slightly, stealing a tender glance at Tony.

Tony's heart skipped a beat under her gaze.

Just then, Steve, who happened to walk by, noticed Tony's dazed expression and asked suspiciously, "What's with you? You look like you're in heat."

Tony: "…"

Seriously?! I'm absolutely being targeted!

The atmosphere was growing livelier by the second.

Watching the scene unfold, Mike shook his head with a smile.

"Alright, let's head in. I'll start prepping the ingredients and get—"

"Wait for me!"

A scholarly-looking man with glasses and a gentle demeanor emerged from the house across from Steve's.

Bruce Banner?

What's he doing here?

Sensing Mike's confusion, Steve leaned in and whispered, "Nick Fury bought him a place nearby. He moved in last week."

Bruce quickened his pace, walked up to the group, adjusted his glasses, then suddenly twisted his face into a mock snarl. "I'm starving—so hungry I might transform! Roar!"

Everyone: "…"

That was… awkwardly cold.

Is this guy an idiot?

"Pfft!"

Gwen burst into laughter, quickly covering her mouth. She looked at Bruce and said, "You're so cute, Uncle Bruce."

Bruce scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly. "Heh… cute is good."

He was trying to scare them…

Mike's gaze swept across the group.

Good grief… is my neighborhood turning into a superhero hub or something?

As the thought crossed his mind, Tony casually remarked, "Oh, by the way, I bought up a few properties around here. If anyone's interested, just let me know."

With more and more Avengers appearing, he and Nick Fury had agreed to establish this area as another home base and refuge for the team.

Steve placed a hand on Tony's shoulder and said dryly, "You should've done that earlier."

He'd spent quite a chunk of his retirement fund buying his house, after all…

Tony just shrugged and raised his hands. "What can you do?"

"Hey! Luke!"

Just then, Gwen spotted a familiar face and shouted excitedly.

Luke looked over, surprise lighting up his face. "You're back!?"

"Yup!"

Gwen nodded energetically, calling out to him across the street.

"Join us for dinner tonight! Bring your parents too!"

Without hesitation, Luke yelled back, "Okay! We'll be right over!"

(End of Chapter)