You just saved the Earth from an alien invasion, what are you going to do next? Why, get some shawarma of course.
I don't own Marvel, etc, etc
They were sore. There wasn't really any other way to describe it. Their bodies ached and screamed and cried and hurt. The adrenaline of battle had worn off, unveiling the crushing weight of exhaustion upon the heroes.
"Could you pass the salt?"
Clint opened his eyes and glanced up at the table. He located the shaker and wordlessly flicked down the table to Bruce.
"Thanks."
Bruises were blackening and scars were forming; you don't just battle thousands of aliens intent on enslaving the earth and not walk away with a few injuries.
Tony set down his half eaten..whatever-it-was and leaned backing in his chair.
"Thoughts on the shawarma?" he asked as he stretched his arms behind his head.
"It's good," Bruce replied placidly as he chewed.
Natasha, who was constructing a plan of attack on how to eat the meat stuffed pita bread without further spilling its contents, nodded in agreement.
Thor answered by silently continuing to take monstrous mouthfuls of the meal.
Clint huffed and returned to his book. "Next time were getting pizza."
"I'm with Barton on this one," Steve agreed, resting his head tiredly on his fist.
"Four outta six 's not bad," Tony shrugged and brought a napkin to his lips. He made a grunting sound when he disturbed his battered shoulder as he readjusted his back.
"Some super-healing would be nice about now," Natasha muttered into her shawarma as the Iron Man shifted in discomfort, eliciting a scoff from Clint.
"Yeah," he complained, snatching a strip of fallen meat off of the Black Widows plate, "Too bad we can't all can't be superhuman soldiers or gods. I think I still have glass in my back from that window." The archer flexed his back and winced.
"Poor baby Hawk forgot how to fly," Tony teased, "Well I quite literally plummeted back to earth and Jolly Green Giant over here had to catch me. Thanks again," he inclined his head to Bruce who returned a small smile.
"At least you had a suit of armor protecting you," Clint pointed out, "All I had was my bow. Well, that and my cunning brilliance."
The billionaire smirked at the archer and leaned forward. "I-"
"Should I get a ruler?" Natasha quipped when Tony opened his mouth to speak. Iron Man promptly snapped his mouth closed while Hawkeye chuckled and winked. Steve and Thor glanced at each other with their eyebrows raised in confusion.
The God of Thunder set down his food. "I do not..."
"Don't worry about it, big guy," Clint smirked.
The Avengers then finished their meals in silence. Long minutes passed. When their plates were finally emptied, they all sat back in their chairs, unable to move. They were exhausted, sore, bruised, scarred.
Steve looked wearily between his battered teammates and exhaled audibly.
"So now what?"
They had been outnumbered, out-gunned, and out-teched. But in the end, they were able to come together as a team, as a unit, to out-wit and out-skill the aliens Loki had brought to their doorstep. The world was safe and New York was still standing; not blown off the map by a frightened counsel with hasty trigger fingers.
The six heroes glanced around at each other. They were a tattered team of outcasts. But they were more than that; they were a warning, a message, a promise: the earth is protected. And if they couldn't protect the earth, you could be damned sure they would avenge it.
Tony pushed himself onto his feet. "We get ready for the next round."