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Friday Night: Arrival & The Great Latke Debate
Matt Murdock’s hand rested on Jen Walters’ knee as the Quinjet descended toward the Baxter Building.
“You know Ben has a thing about punctuality, right?” Jen teased, squeezing his fingers.
Matt smirked. “I assume you’re referring to the man who’s thrown buses at people?”
“He prefers punctual guests, Murdock. And if we’re late, you’re the one explaining it to him.”
As the doors opened, they were greeted by Ben Grimm’s gravelly voice booming, “‘Bout time, ya mugs!” and Alicia’s far more pleasant, “We’re just glad you made it!”
Inside, the weekend crew was already assembled: Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Peter Parker, Mary Jane Watson, T’Challa, Ororo Munroe, and Sam Wilson with Misty Knight. The wine was flowing, the mood was light, and all was well—until Reed casually reignited The Great Latke vs. Pancake Debate.
“Logically,” Reed began, “the molecular structure of a properly cooked latke allows for superior crispness compared to the average pancake.”
Ben groaned. “Here we go again.”
Jen perked up. “Oh, this I can argue about. Pancakes are comfort food. Classic. Nostalgic. A fluffy bite of happiness.”
Matt, entirely unfazed, leaned toward her. “And yet, when we make breakfast, you always steal my latkes.”
“I do not—”
“You do,” Matt, Ben, and Peter said at the same time.
“I’m entitled to a taste test,” Jen grumbled, crossing her arms.
Ben shook his head. “See, this is why we gotta settle it tomorrow morning—cook-off style.”
Sue sighed. “We’re never not doing this, are we?”
Peter nudged MJ. “Okay, but if Johnny and I sneak some of Reed’s science flour into the pancake batter, that’s a harmless prank, right?”
MJ pinched the bridge of her nose. “Peter. No.”
“Peter. Yes,” Johnny whispered from the other side of the room.
And so the night was set: tomorrow, The Battle of Breakfast would commence.
Saturday Morning: Pancakes, Pranks, and Public Humiliation
By the time everyone shuffled into the kitchen, Matt was already flipping latkes with the confidence of a man who had definitely cooked in total darkness before. Jen, meanwhile, had commandeered the griddle for pancakes, wielding her spatula like Mjolnir.
Everything was going smoothly—until Peter took his first bite.
“Uh, hey, Reed?” Peter coughed. “Did you say your flour was stable?”
Reed looked up from his coffee. “It should be.”
“Because my pancake is… floating.”
At that moment, Johnny Storm’s pancake shot out of his hands and started orbiting him.
“Oh, hell yes!” Johnny cackled. “I can taste science!”
Matt, deadpan, turned to Jen. “You still stealing my latkes?”
“I want to say no,” Jen admitted, staring at Johnny’s pancake now circling the room like a confused UFO.
Sue exhaled deeply. “Reed. Why do we let you in the kitchen?”
“I believe,” Matt said smoothly, “this means I win by default.”
Ben grumbled. “Ya always gotta make it lawyerly, don’tcha?”
Saturday Afternoon: Matt’s Sensory Challenge & Jen Being the Best Girlfriend Ever
Later that day, the group decided to take a walk through the city before the big anniversary dinner. But halfway through, Matt’s grip on Jen’s arm subtly tightened.
She looked up. Ah. Too many neon signs.
With Matt’s heightened senses, flickering lights could be a nightmare, sending him into a whirlwind of sensory overload.
Jen didn’t make a big deal of it. Didn’t announce anything. Just shifted, keeping her body between him and the worst of the flashing lights, murmuring, “This way, hotshot,” like they were just walking closer because she wanted to be near him.
Matt exhaled slowly. “How’d you know?”
Jen winked. “I pay attention.”
His fingers flexed against her wrist. “I love you.”
She squeezed back. “I know.”
Saturday Evening: Ben & Alicia’s Heartfelt Moment
At the party, Ben took Alicia’s hands. “You ever think about that first date? When I was so sure you’d bolt soon as ya got a good sense of me?”
Alicia, ever patient, smiled. “I never 'saw' you the way you saw yourself, Ben.”
Ben swallowed hard. “Guess I got lucky.”
Alicia squeezed his hands. “No, I did.”
Silence stretched. The party faded. And for just that moment, it was just the two of them.
Sunday: Dragon Man’s Very Misguided Gift
Just when it seemed like the weekend had gone smoothly, the Baxter Building’s alarms blared.
Sue groaned. “Oh, come on!”
The doors burst open. In stomped Dragon Man.
Peter, already climbing the walls, yelled, “I knew this was too peaceful!”
Ben cracked his knuckles. “Alright, ya big lizard—”
Dragon Man held up… a wrapped present?
Everyone paused.
Dragon Man rumbled, “Ben Grimm. Alicia Masters. Congratulations on your anniversary. I made you a sculpture.”
Reed adjusted his glasses. “…Did it really just... bring a gift?”
Jen blinked. “Wait, do we have to fight him now?”
Alicia, amused, stepped forward. “You made us a gift?”
Dragon Man nodded solemnly. “It is of you and Ben. With your cat. I studied sculpting techniques.”
Everyone turned to Ben, waiting.
Ben rubbed his face. “I swear, if this thing’s ugly, I ain’t displayin’ it.”
Dragon Man beamed.
And that, somehow, was how the weekend ended: with latke debates, flying pancakes, heartfelt moments, and a very earnest massive dragon android giving art lessons.
Just another weekend with friends.