Search for the Soul Gem

Chapter Thirty

"There you are doll, we were getting worried about you," James called as Tony and I neared the kitchen. Tony's hand rested on the small of my back as we rounded the counter and walked toward the table. I bowed my head to hide my flushed cheeks and smiled lightly.

"Yeah, I had to go to the bathroom," I lied. When I looked up, I caught eyes with Banner who shot me a knowing look. He knew I was lying and he kept my gaze. He shot me a small nod before turning back to his plate in front of him.

"Well we made you a plate if you would like it," James offered, motioning toward counter where a plate rested. I walked over to the counter and up to the plate that was about half full. Tony appeared next to me and grabbed a plate that looked like it had been abandoned there earlier. He looked over at me with a small smile on his face. The plate that was made up on the counter for me had a small amount of rice pushed into a pile on one end of the plate. There was a half of fillet of salmon that was pushed into the other side of the plate. I smiled lightly before scooping it up and turned to the table again. There was a single seat that was open next to Banner. I gnawed at the inside of my cheek as I stepped around the table and placed my plate on the table next to Banner. I pulled the chair out from the table and sat down. Banner looked down at me.

"Sorry, I know it's not much but I didn't want to risk anything," Banner said. I looked over at him and shot him a smile.

"No, dont worry. Thank you so much," I said looking up at him with a smile. Tony appeared on the other side of me. The chair scrapped against the tile as he pulled it up to the other side of me.

"Lady Lucy, this is the best Midgardian meal I have ever had!" Thor boomed, his fists banging against the table. I jumped up in shock at the sudden sound. The china on the table rattled from the assult. I jumped back slightly and into the back of the chair. Tony looked up from me and cast his glance over at Thor.

"Take it easy there Hammer Time, don't break the table," Tony hissed. I elbowed him slightly under the table. He looked over at my, a look of confusion clear on his face.

"Really though, this is really good," Steve said from the opposite end of the table. I looked over at Steve and smiled in appriciation.

"Well, everything better than the straight protien you drink Rogers," Natasha shot back, shoveling food into her mouth. I tried to hide my smile as I picked up my fork slowly and decided what of the little food I had to eat first. The heroes around the table burst into laughter. Steve's face flushed a light pink at the comment.

"This coming from the woman who can't even boil water," Sam shot back. Again, another wave of laughter rolled around the table. Natasha glared over her fork at Sam as he continued to eat.

"Yeah, cause the pigeon is always the person I count on for my life goals," James shot back.

"You seem to be pretty content to count on me to get your ass out of trouble," Sam leveled with a cocky smirk as he took another bite.

"Hey! Steve doesn't like that kind of language," Natasha said with a smirk. A smile pulled at my mouth as I took another bite. The food was better than I'd expected. It really did seem like I knew how to cook.

"You know what Romanoff," Steve started. Natasha smirked over at Steve.

"Take it easy on him Nat, it's not his fault he came from the 'good 'ol days'," Clint piped up from next to Natasha. Steve glared over at Clint. James was laughing next to Steve and leaned over to elbowed Steve's arm.

"What good 'ol days would that be? Back when you were always sick? or when we were fighting Hitler?" James called out. Steve shot him a glare that was enough to kill a man, causing James to laugh even harder.