"Chapter One"

"This is it, right here," Clint said, pointing. Without warning, Tony swerved the car to the left, across the – fortunately empty – lane of traffic, and straight into the car park of The Everything Diner. It wasn't so much a diner as a restaurant, but that was due to its expansion. The owner didn't change the name; just the location. The restaurant had been gaining in success over the months, and the Avengers had yet to try it out.

"I'm glad we went through that roller coaster ride before the meal," Steve muttered from the back. He waved at Thor and Jane, who were already waiting for them. Pepper was on the other side of their car, chatting away on the phone. Now they knew why she had tactfully gotten out of riding with Tony.

"Have you ever even been on a roller coaster?" Tony asked as they all climbed out, looking at Steve.

"Yeah, and I still have memories of Coney…" Steve trailed off, eyes shuttering. He swallowed, and opted to follow Natasha into the restaurant. They were lucky that there was plenty of space. Natasha and Clint had vetoed booking ahead, just like they did with every other place the Avengers had tried. Sometimes it made fitting in difficult, but the SHIELD agents were paranoid.

"A table for nine," Natasha told the maitre d'. He nodded, checked the tables, and led them over to a long one with enough room for all of them. Happy sat at one end, beside Pepper and Tony. Natasha sat closest to the kitchen, Clint kept his back closest to the wall, and the rest seated themselves elsewhere. They received their menus, and opened them up.

This was the tricky part. They had yet to find an eating place all six superheroes could agree on, as well as pass muster with their friends. Bruce had read about The Everything Diner on an online forum, and while it took nearly three quarters of an hour to drive there, he'd suggested it. Willing to try anything, the others agreed. Thanks to an argument about who sat where, they were later leaving than intended, and hungrier because of the time wasted.

"I don't know," Steve said, staring at the long list of varying options. "There's too much to choose from."

"Excuse me," one of the waiters said, leaning over Pepper's shoulder. He was wide-eyed, curly-haired, and adorkable. "Are you the Avengers? Lance said that he thought you were, but he thought someone here the other night was the Prime Minister. Didn't look anything like him, of course—"

"Yes, we're the, uh, the Avengers," Steve said, bringing the other's chatter to a halt. "Can you recommend anything from the menu?"

"I could recommend everything, sir," the waiter said. "It's The Everything Diner."

"Doesn't exactly help," Clint muttered, smirking as he nudged Steve's foot under the table.

"If… if you're having trouble deciding, I could ask our head chef to make his tasting menu. I'm sure he'd be happy to. He's a big fan of yours; all of you, that is. Not just Captain America, though he does sort of have a shrine… Anyway." He scratched behind his ear with a pen. "Are you ready to order yet?"

"Not yet," Pepper said. "We'll let you know…?"

"Leo."

"Leo. We'll let you know."

"Of course, Miss Potts. I'll, uh, be around." Then he skittered away, Happy watching him with deep suspicion.

"Word may get around quickly," Natasha said.

"What did you expect?" Jane said. "This isn't the first time you've been recognised in public. At least it's not too busy here."

"This far out of New York? `Course it isn't," Tony said, still studying the menu. Steve was frowning at his, and Thor was searching for the largest dish. Bruce was trying to decide between the vegan options when someone joined them. Judging by the apron and air of authority, it had to be the head chef.

"My name is Phil Coulson," he said. "Was someone asking about the tasting menu?"

"That'd be me," Steve said. "Well, I didn't really ask for it. Leo told me about it."

"If you prefer, I could just fix you smaller portions of a few of the favourites?"

Steve brightened. "You can do that?"

"Not a problem," Phil said, smiling widely. "Do you have any allergies?"

"No. Not since the serum… No, no allergies. As far as I know."

"I'll be careful. Let Fitz – I mean, Leo – let him know about any allergies or dietary requirements."

"I believe you use all organic ingredients?" Bruce said, before Phil could return to the kitchen.

"That's right."

"And I'm vegan."

Phil tilted his head. "There's no cross-contamination of any kind in my kitchen, I can assure you, sir."

"Thank you."

"Which of these meals is the largest?" Thor asked.

"He has a big appetite," Jane explained. "Very high metabolism."

"Higher than mine," Steve added. Thor shrugged, and Phil nodded.

"Pick what you want, and I'll make sure there's plenty of it," he said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to work. Many hungry diners around."

Then he took his leave of them, and they continued to ponder over the choices. Eventually, Pepper was able to signal for Leo, who came and took their order. Natasha shadowed him to the kitchen, and waited until he'd left through another door before entering.

Phil didn't seem at all surprised to see her. He, along with a woman and another man, were hurrying around the room as they worked on the meals. Natasha crossed her arms, but kept out of the way as best she could. Phil was holding a knife, and pointed.

"That'll be the best and safest vantage point, if you want to watch," he said. She followed his suggestion, and found it a good one. She was able to see everything and stay back from the four chefs, as well as the sharp knives and boiling liquids.

Meanwhile, the others were surprised that none of their fellow diners had come over to take pictures. Either they hadn't been recognised, or there were strict instructions not to bother the Avengers and company. Lance, the maitre d', brought over complimentary water while the barman worked on their drinks order. Apparently, he used to work for a bar, but he fell in love with one of the waitresses, Skye, and joined The Everything Diner after the expansion, just to be with her. They were all accommodating, despite getting busier as more groups and couples showed up.

Natasha followed Leo and Skye as they brought out the plates and bowls of food. Thor had an extra large helping of steak, salad, and chips. Steve had three plates and a bowl, all different dishes. Bruce seemed pleased with his soup and roasted vegetables. It was Tony who tried some of his food, then some of Pepper's, and asked if he could have what she was having instead.

"Of course, sir," Skye said, picking up his dish. "There should still be enough left from when Trip made Miss Potts' food." Sure enough, less than a minute later a new meal was placed in front of Tony.

"You owe them a big tip for that, Tony," Pepper said. "There's no reason to keep them on their toes like that."

"Hey, they were happy to oblige," he said.

Jane muffled her chuckles behind her napkin, but Tony still narrowed his eyes.

"Sorry," she said. "Just remembering the Greek restaurant where the server dumped your meal on your head."

"And I learnt to be more polite after that," Tony said. "See? I grew. I developed. I learnt not to mock someone's botargo in front of his fiancée."

"I think she thought it was a euphemism," Happy said.

"Well, I knew it was a euphemism, but I didn't know that she knew that."

Phil hated having to throw out good food, and Jemma and Trip always made excellent food. He sighed as he stepped outside to take a breather.

Then he noticed something in the darkness. Someone.

"Hello?" he said, creeping closer. He noticed the shadow move, and a figure stepped into the light of the dodgy lamp out the back of the restaurant. There was a glint of steel, a mop of shaggy black hair, and then a man. He looked from Phil to the door, to the front of the restaurant, and back to Phil. His legs were trembling, as though he was weak, and his arms were wrapped around his middle. He glanced at the kitchen door again quickly, and took a step back. His skin was pallid, and his clothes were hanging loose. Phil noticed him playing with the zip of his hoodie.

"Are you hungry?" Phil asked. The man hesitated, and then shrugged. After another moment, he hung his head, and nodded. "Wait here."

He ducked back into the kitchen, and found that Mr. Stark's dish was still there and still warm. He grabbed an extra knife and fork, and went back outside. The stranger was huddling back against the dumpster, eyes constantly moving. He tensed as Phil approached, now exclusively watching the knife. Phil stopped a few feet away, and crouched down. He placed the plate on the bitumen, the knife and fork either side, and pushed it closer. Then he stood, backed up, and waited.

Slowly, two hands reached out. The man – was he homeless? – picked up the meal and brought it back to his lap. He stared at Phil for a moment, and then pulled the plate closer to his chest. Phil held up his hands, familiar with the universal gesture of 'Mine', and backed in to the kitchen. He waited a moment, but the stranger didn't move. With a soft sigh, Phil returned to the sink and washed his hands thoroughly. He donned his apron again, and went about working on the next vat of Soup of the Day (creamy leek and potato with capsicum sauce).

Half an hour later, he thought to check on the strange man. All that was left of him was an empty plate, nearly spotless, and equally clean cutlery. He must have licked up any remaining food. When was the last time he'd eaten?

Well, either the man would return or he wouldn't. Phil would keep an eye out for him, just in case. And if Tony Stark didn't know that his discarded meal had gone to a grateful belly, then that was fine by Phil. He was going to be charged for it anyway. It might as well go to someone who appreciated it.

In the car park afterwards, Bruce looked around at the others.

"Success?" he asked.

"Definitely coming back," Jane said.

"They were most attentive," Thor said.

"I liked it," Steve said.

"He allowed me to watch," Natasha remarked. "He almost seemed to expect it."

"It was so nice to taste real ingredients, and not just chemicals," Bruce said.

"Have we actually found a place you can all agree on?" Pepper asked, eyes twinkling. The Avengers and Jane nodded, and Happy grinned. "Yes, Bruce. This was a success. Thank you for finding it."

"Oh, well," he said, shrugging. His cheeks turned pink. "I just read about it…"

As they climbed into their cars, not even Clint or Natasha noticed someone lurking nearby, watching them as they drove off.

It was the third time they'd been to The Everything Diner, but this time it was different. Thor's meal was normal-sized. There was a different wait-staff on, and a female maitre d'. The food was still good quality, and the same barman was there, and his girlfriend was on the till. When Natasha staked out the kitchen, she saw that Leo was one of the chefs, and he beamed when he saw her. But his two companions were unfamiliar to her.

"Ms. Romanov, this is Melinda, our sous chef," Leo said, pointing to the woman. "She and Phil do different days. And this is Mack. He's fresh out of grad school, and he's my roommate.."

"How do you do," Natasha said, studying the two strangers.

"If you could wait outside, we'll be done soon," Melinda said, indicating the door with her head. Natasha wouldn't move.

"Phil lets me stay here," she said.

"Do you think we're going to poison you?"

"That's always a possibility."

Melinda raised her eyebrows. "I wouldn't let that happen to my patrons. Now wait outside, please."

So Natasha had resigned herself to sitting at the table with the others, arms crossed and expression showing her deep displeasure. She should have been used to it; but Phil had been good about allowing her to watch the preparations, even spoke to her every so often (and winked once or twice, whenever Tony changed his mind about what he wanted). The only comfort she had was that Leo was in the kitchen.

After a comparatively disappointing meal – although still better than most they'd had out – the Avengers trudged home. It had only been the six of them that night, and Bruce and Steve had been in charge of making sure that the others didn't complain to the staff. They didn't stay for dessert, even though Skye reassured them that Melinda made the best soufflés, and that Mack's puddings were unbeatable. Before they left, Clint caved and went back inside to get some of the truffles from the bar, which were apparently a joint effort between Leo and the barman Grant. They were the only bright spark on an otherwise sub-par evening.

"That does it," Tony muttered while they ate their truffles as they watched a rerun of Supernanny. "I'm hacking their computer records. They've gotta have their staff rosters somewhere."

"If that doesn't work, I'm going back tonight," Natasha said. "I'll find out then."

"But the restaurant closes in fifteen minutes," Steve said. "There won't be anyone there… oh."

"Or you could call and ask," Bruce said. "But I guess that's too law-abiding."

"They probably wouldn't give out that kind of information, no matter who we are," Clint said, tossing another truffle into the air. He caught it in his mouth, the chocolate exploding on his tongue. He loved that. Hell, he'd be getting truffles every time they went there from now on. No matter what Cap said about him getting chocolate all over his mouth. Clint saw the way Steve looked at him; he probably just wanted to lick the chocolate right off Clint's lips. You wouldn't be hearing any complaints from Clint, that was for sure.

"We're all busy the next couple of days, anyway," Steve said. He was trying not to stare at Clint's chocolate-smeared mouth. "Natasha, don't you have a mission to prepare for?"

"How do you know about that?" she asked. Steve looked surprised.

"Lucky guess, actually," he said. "Clint, are you going with her?" Clint shook his head, savouring the last of the truffles. "Tony, please don't waste JARVIS's time with hacking restaurant computer systems. It's a Tuesday. Maybe Phil doesn't work Tuesdays? Or at least not Tuesday nights? We've been on a Saturday and a Wednesday so far. They could even alternate days. It might be completely random. Let's just go when we can."

"Stake out the joint under the pretence of dining," Clint said with a big smile. "Good idea, Steve."

Ooh, he must have had it bad if he was blushing like that. Nobody pointed it out.

That someone is Bucky, by the way. Probably wasn't clear enough about that. But since the end goal is Bucky/Phil, I had to start setting it up at some point, right?

Prompt fill, except this one will – obviously – be chaptered. It's on page 33 of round 25 on the Avengers Kink Meme. I'm on a bit of a Phil/Bucky kick at the moment (though my default setting tends to be a Phil/someone kick), and decided to go that way with the prompt.

Just to clarify, everything up to 'Cap 2' happened as-is, and only some of 'Cap 2' happened. SHIELD was never associated with HYDRA; Bucky was still HYDRA's weapon until seeing Steve began to break his programming. Sam and Steve became friends, and are searching for Bucky when they can. I think that's all you need to know.

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