"Was that comment directed to me, Xander?" Jarvis asked and Xander scowled.
"Why did the bedroom change color, why do I think someone is conspiring with you about, about, about something!" Now that it was over, he couldn't put his finger on exactly what made him think something was going on. The lack of speed in the elevator? The subtle jolt that had Darcy in his arms? Or had that been him. "I have a sense when people are trying to, to…" he trailed off and growled. "Enough. I have stuff to do. Jane is Tony's problem. They are adults, not slayers. I have a demon to respond to."
He started researching, and running available slayers through his head. A steady job might attract some where the college hadn't. Or college, a job, and backup if really needed.
"I am not sure why you believe there was anything nefarious in our behavior." Jarvis's voice pulled Xander out of his absorption on the proposal for a demon bar. He'd found a building that while mostly structurally sound, had only had one tenant when the invasion came and since then had lain abandoned. What fascinated it him was it qualified as residential/commercial and the upper apartments could be renovated. What if he turned the entire building into a demon/mutant place. Be tricking to avoid renting to pure humans, but witches, slayers, demons, mutants, with a bar in the basement you had to be invited to see? It had possibilities. Working on the proposal had pushed most other thoughts out of his head, though lingering images of red lips slipped through occasionally.
"I'm sorry? What are you taking about?" He learned back stretching trying to work out the kink in his back. He'd really need to go do a work out this evening before bed. Maybe even swim. The swim team had never fully left him.
"I have reviewed all the footage I have of the entire time from meeting Dr. Foster and Ms. Lewis. At no time was anything done or said that would have implied any scheming. Out side of Natasha texting Maria."
"Ha! I knew she was." He heaved a sigh and winced glancing at the clock. "I'm just paranoid I guess. I seem to be the universes buttmonkey on a regular basis and D-" He broke off and cleared his throat. "I was just a bit off balance. No big. Sorry if I offended you."
"I do not have the correct programming to take offense." Jarvis ignored the coughing from Xander that sounded very much like 'bullshit'. "However, I did want to make sure my sensors had not missed something."
Xander shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. I'm running down to the bodega to get stuff for dinner tonight. I think I've got Steve, Safira, Jolie, and Darcy. Any chance that Dr. Foster and Thor Odinson will show up?"
"Sir has indicated they will be dining with him, while Ms. Lewis said she had other plans. Their luggage has been delivered and she is curren-"
"Ah! No. No privacy invading. I'll see her at dinner." Xander focused on the menu for tonight and did not think about Darcy naked in that tub with bubbled. He absolutely never though of bubbles sliding down her body or those red lips. Instead he focused so strongly on dinner, that he walked into the glass door when it didn't open fast enough.
Focus, no thinking about naked women.
Which did strike him as patently unfair at times. Between Maria, Natasha, Pepper, Faith, and now Darcy, he was surrounded by women well worth the daydream.
Knives, runes, forging. Focus on stuff that won't get you killed.
He focused on the meal and what he needed. Walking back down the street, sturdy reusable bags in his hands he admired the city. The repair work was still going on, but slowly New York was shining again. Xander glanced at his watch and groaned.
"Ugh. I'm not going to have time if I don't get going." He turned taking an alley as a quicker route back to the Tower. Taking this would cut out about ten minutes and he didn't want to jog. The fruit would get bruised.
A few steps from the other side a young man, sporting gang tats and a knife stepped out. "Give me the money or I'll take your other eye."
Xander rolled said eye towards the sky. "No." And kept walking. He was pretty sure the fish would go well with the beans and rice. And he planned on baking the half-baked bread he'd bought, adding a loaded salad, and rolled salami and cheese. He was just hungry, not trying to impress anyone, really.
"Hey, I'm talking to you." The young man lunged forward, holding the knife like it was a baseball bat. Xander sighed, pivoted, kicked out with his right leg, hitting the man in the gut. He might have been a bit annoyed as he kicked hard enough the man flew backwards to hit the wall. Hyena liked fish. Ignoring the wheezing boy he reached other end of the alley and walked towards the tower, thinking about desert. He'd probably play it safe and have ice cream. Food he could do. Deserts and baking never came out as good as he wanted.
Riding up the elevator he blinked as Jarvis spoke. "Are you okay Xander? I saw you had some trouble?"
"Huh? I did?"
"The young man stumbling out after you with a blade. He appeared on my building cameras. The blade and your presence caused it to come to my notice."
"Oh. No trouble. Just someone that can't make good judgment. In life or victims apparently. Where's Safira?"
"Currently studying in the apartment. Jolie is still in Dr. Banner's lab."
"Cool, I'll enlist her help since I'm feeding her boyfriend." Xander had noticed however that food would mysteriously appear in his fridge, and he knew neither Jolie or Safira would think to provide basics. He'd thought about asking Jarvis, but in some ways he didn't want to know the answer. Having people at the table made the meal richer, and Jolie needed to see how people could interact without danger or science.
Walking in, he could heard the odd high subtle buzz of the noise generator that isolated that corner. Best idea ever, because otherwise he'd be listening to what ever she was currently addicted to at volumes not good for continued hearing. Safira found music endlessly fascinating as she had no musical talent and lately had been on a jazz kick. Absolutely not his favorite.
He saw her sitting there as he set the bags on the table. The corner was set so she could see people coming in, back to the door was never a good option. She looked up and smiled when she saw him. A minute later the buzz clicked off and she walked out.
"OOh, dinner? What you making?"
We are making fish, red beans and rice, and some appetizers." He replied dryly. She'd help but cooking still wasn't anything she could see as fun. No matter how much she enjoyed food.
"That sounds fancy. Why does that sound fancy?" She crossed her arms and stared at him.
"What? I can't cook nice food for the daughter of my heart and her boyfriend?"
"Not when you know we'd eat frozen dinners without even thinking about."
"Yes and then whine the entire time about how bland and unhealthy it is." He nodded at the pile. "Come on, help me prep."
Safira tilted her head looking at him. "Maria coming over for dinner? Do we need to eat elsewhere?"
"No she isn't. And she likes you, all of you, so I wouldn't ask you to leave even if she was," Xander managed to reply without letting any indignation seep into his voice.
"You do get to have a life. And if you want some privacy, we can give you some." Safira grinned at him as she helped started to prep food.
"If I needed privacy I'd probably take her out for dinner. And she does have her own place. But you know we aren't there. So no." Xander gave his ward an exasperated glare. It bounced right off her.
"Well, we've eliminated Maria. I don't think you could handle Natasha. And Pepper is way out of your league." She giggled at his outraged look. "Sorry, she is. Though I think she is out of Tony's league too. Want to explain why you're making a fancy dinner?"
"Because I wanted to. But yes we will have another guest for dinner tonight. Darcy. That is the scientist's assistant/friend. Not a hundred percent sure she works for her or just helps out. But she seemed a bit lost and Thor is totally gaga over the doctor. Hence lunch. So be nice."
"I am always nice." Safira protested, but in the face of Xander's deadpanned look she couldn't keep a straight face. "Okay, fine I won't go all Buffy on her."
"Ouch. Please tell me that is a new one."
"Yep. Like it?"
Xander shrugged. "A bit too accurate. Besides, you've never cared that much about fashion."
"Point. Fine, I'll be proper."
"Oh please. Just be you. Besides, Steve will be here." He looked at the prep, mostly ready. He dumped the rice in peans in the electronic pressure cooker and threw the fish in the oven. "Go finish your homework so you can enjoy. I'm jumping in the shower."
Safira shook her head at him and headed back to the corner, but she didn't turn on the white noise or the music this time. Knowing someone was coming to their place meant being on your guard.
Xander took a quit shower and reminded himself this wasn't a date, it was a welcome to the madness dinner. Any really, anyone getting dragged into this insanity with super scientists and super soldiers needed some support.
I figure Jane Foster is either neck deep in science, or Thor is occupying her attention. But Darcy seems a bit overwhelmed by all this.
He'd just finished making the salad when Jarvis spoke. "Miss Lewis is on her way up."
"Thanks, J." He glanced at his work, he still needed to pull out the fish, dish up the rice and beans, and wash his hands. Not necessarily in that order. "Safira, can you let her in? And remind Jolie it is dinner time."
"I have already done so. I'm afraid I had to point out that you told her if she was late to dinner one more time her lab time would be curtailed by a half hour for a week before she quit." Jarvis sounded almost apologetic.
"That girl. If I didn't know that she needs the socialization with people as much as she needs the lab time I'd feel guilty."
Safira walked by him. "Nah don't. She loves knowing you care enough to impose consequences, and consequences that matter not threats."
The idle words made something in his heart twinge and there must have been dust in the air as his one eye watered a bit.
"Hey! You must be Darcy, come on in." Safira's voice came back through the open door and Xander heard a tone that let him know at some point the teasing would be merciless.
"Don't close the door, I'm coming." Jolie's voice followed before the door closed.
"Um? Hi? Are you Xanders daughters?" The confusion carried clearly and Xander realized he should have gone to open the door for her.
"Yep. That's me."
"No. Duh, he doesn't have any kids."
"Please quit confusing our guest, and quit standing out there," he called out as he finished putting stuff on the table and washed his hands.
A click of the door and feet heralded arrival. "Are you Dr. Foster? You don't look like her." The wary tone Jolie had with meeting anyone new radiated from her, even as they came into the living room.
"No. I'm not a scientist, well not like that. She's my friend."
"What do you mean not like that? What kinda of scientist are you. Please tell me you at least graduated from high school?"
"Jolie. Just cause you examed out at eleven doesn't mean you need to be rude. This is a guest in our house. Hospitality?" Xander mentioned as he walked over, trying not to react to Darcy Lewis.
She had on a blue green dress in the fifties style, loose and full over her hips and legs, tight waist and chest, displaying assets that he wanted to inspect. Her lips this time were Cherry Red, and her hair had been bushed to a shine flowing down her back. With experience garnered from hanging around Natasha, he didn't imagine anything about her with her hair down and nothing else.
Really.
Sorry been stressing about marketing and ads and the lack of sales and the fact that I suck at anything not regarding story - so look STORY. Remember if you luvs me, share my original stuff purty please!