Chapter 41
Natasha and Sylvie went upstairs to check on the other Avengers. Inside the conference room Bruce was still running scans but seemed much less concerned, while Tony continued texting on his phone.
Steve stood up respectfully as the two women entered the room.
“Well that’s one helluva trade up,” Tony deadpanned as he looked up from the device in his hands.
“I thought Sylvie could use a little break from the drama Gods so behave Tony,” Natasha said with a knowing look.
“Psh, she hit me!” Tony complained.
“And you deserved it,” Sylvie said coolly.
Tony raised his hands in surrender, “No arguments here, but maybe next time try not to go for the face, I don’t know how many more hits it can take and still look this good.”
Natasha rolled her eyes and Sylvie let out a haughty huff, “No promises, Stark.”
Steve shook with a silent laugh, “Honestly Tony, that’s probably the best assurance you’re gonna get from her.”
Sylvie smirked and took a seat near him as Natasha leaned against the adjacent sideboard.
“How are you, Captain?” She asked mildly.
Steve smiled warmly, “I’m good, Sylvie. Did you sleep well?”
Tony rolled his eyes dramatically at the idle pleasantries and got up to go look over the scans again with Bruce.
“What exactly are they looking for?” Sylvie asked Steve in a hushed voice as the two scientists bickered over readings.
“Apparently there was some concern over the energy signatures of the stones you two brought—something about their being from another timeline or universe… it’s a little above my pay grade,” he answered modestly.
“I see, that is worth examining, excuse me…” Sylvie stood and walked over to the screens.
She looked over Tony’s shoulder reading the screens as if he weren’t even there.
“Are they currently emitting energy consistent with this version of reality or are they still fluctuating?” Sylvie asked absently.
Bruce turned and quickly made room for her to look. He explained the readings but was taken aback when she seemed to not only understand all of it but had suggestions for things to test for.
Tony leaned back slightly, listening with a furrowed brow as he watched her explain the nature of alternate timeline signatures and how to identify nexus energy. Bruce was beyond excited to learn and listened eagerly.
Sylvie answered his questions sounding slightly bored and adjusting the settings on the screen absently.
Tony stared at her, then looked at Bruce with his expression completely serious, “I think I’m in love, can we keep her?”
Steve had moved to lean against the sideboard next to Natasha and they both chuckled with amusement. Natasha shook her head fondly, proud to see her friend run rings around the super scientists.
Steve was just happy to see them all getting along. He’d worried there might be tension between them after the previous night, but it seemed Sylvie had passed some kind of test in Tony’s eyes and now held his respect.
“Seems she can certainly hold her own with our resident geniuses,” Steve said quietly to Natasha with a contented smile.
“She holds her own on the mats as well, I took one of those hits from her and they’re no joke,” Natasha smirked.
“Geez, you know in my day ladies went for soda pop or—”
“Or sat by their windows dreaming of becoming housewives, I get it Steve,” Natasha teased.
Steve heaved a sigh and looked apologetic, “Sorry, I know I’m still pretty old-fashioned…”
“Eh, we’ll break you of it eventually,” Natasha grinned cheekily.
“Hey! Cap, sorry your positions been filled, we have a new Avenger—” Tony called over to Steve earning a sigh and a weary eye roll.
“Why me? Natasha doesn’t know this stuff either…”
“Throw the lady under the bus? Very gouache Rogers,” Tony pretended to scold him, “anyway I’m hoping to replace you all with female superheroes—”
“Why? So you can finally be the most masculine one on the team?” Natasha snarked dryly.
Tony gasped dramatically and clutched his chest, “I take it back, she can have your spot—”
“Nobody’s taking anyone’s spots,” Bruce said like a teacher reasserting the peace on the playground.
Sylvie arched an eyebrow, “Who says I even want to be a part of your little club, Tony?”
Tony huffed like a petulant child, “Fine, stick with Criss Angel: Mind Freak, we’ll find a way to soldier on somehow…”
Sylvie rolled her eyes and walked casually over to Natasha, “isn’t there anywhere outside this place we could get something to eat?”
Natasha arched an eyebrow, appraising her friend then shrugged, “Sure, I’ve been cooped up in here too long anyway.”
“Uh, you’re leaving? What about Loki…?” Bruce asked sounding slightly nervous.
“I knew you were still afraid of him,” Tony muttered under his breath.
“I’m not afraid, I just don’t wanna be the one to explain to him that she took off without him…” Bruce murmured back anxiously.
“We’ll be right back, just keep playing with your toys and try not to start anymore fights,” Natasha said boredly as she and Sylvie moved to leave.
“Any chance you two need a third wheel?” Steve asked despite sounding resigned to staying behind.
“Nah we need someone to keep an eye on the geeks, afraid if it’s me there may be bloodshed,” Natasha said dryly.
“Copy that, babysitting duty,” Steve sat back down. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back, closing his eyes with a sigh.
The two women left as Tony and Bruce bickered quietly and Steve attempted to tune them out. It was oddly comforting to Natasha that their well worn behaviors be so consistent.
She could generally predict how most issues would go over with the group and when to allow herself a break. They were dependable in that way, though she couldn’t help sometimes feeling lonely in their midst.
Natasha wasn’t sure if it was because she was so often the only woman in the group, or if the feeling came from someplace more remote inside herself. She noted that it was eased around Sylvie, a bit like when she was near her sister, Yelena.
Sylvie didn’t chatter pointlessly and she never asked Natasha to be someone she wasn’t. The mask of politeness and normalcy seemed to only bore her and Natasha found it refreshingly easy to be around.
“There’s a coffee place that does great scones and quiches 10 minutes from here,” Natasha said idly and Sylvie nodded.
“I like scones…” Sylvie said absently, mind elsewhere.
“You alright? You’ve got that glazed look going on…” Natasha said with a little half smirk.
“Fine, just… too long in one place makes me anxious,” Sylvie glanced at Natasha, “needed to move.”
Natasha nodded in understanding, “life on the run, I know it well… never stopping long enough to really catch your breath. It becomes a habit, eventually you forget how to fully relax.”
“How do you break it?”
“I’ll let you know if I ever find out,” Natasha smirked and Sylvie rolled her eyes with a laugh.