"I told you this was a good idea," Tony bragged, tossing down his napkin onto his empty plate. Was lunch just something to distract him from processing everything that had just happened? Maybe, but that wasn't important right now. They'd all made it and that was the thing to focus on. Against all the odds, they'd come out on top and mostly unscathed. Sure, Tony had basically flatlined and Steve looked like he was half asleep, but banged up was better than the alternative. Nothing a good night's sleep wouldn't fix.
"I can't eat another bite," Clint groaned, holding his stomach as he covered up a burp.
"No one told you to eat so much," Natasha scoffed, rolling her eyes as she sipped on her Sprite.
"I could eat more!" Thor boomed, reaching across the table for Clint's half eaten plate of food.
"If you're going to be sick, point the other way," Bruce mumbled, cringing away from the burbling man.
"Are you sure you're done? The food was so good," Tony teased, grinning as he could see Clint turning a bit green. This would be too easy. "All that meat, just covered in spices. Juices dripping from the spit as it slowly cooks."
"Stark," Natasha warned, sending him a death glare. He was on a roll though.
"A nice, healthy dollop of yogurt to go along with it. Tangy, maybe even a bit sour."
"Stop!" Clint whined, pursing his lips. Tony was preparing for the grand finale when a sudden gag to his right caught his attention and he turned just in time to see Captain America leaning over the edge of the table blowing chunks.
"Holy shit!" Tony exclaimed, jumping up to get a better view of the show. He hadn't even realized Steve had been listening, since he hadn't seen the other man move since he'd sat down. Tony didn't even think he'd eaten that much, but maybe he had a sensitive stomach. Who knows, maybe Shield had him on a rabbit food diet since they thawed him out?
"Cap, are you okay?" Natasha asked, pushing Clint's legs off her chair so she could twist around more easily. The only answer she got was Steve coughing up another mouthful and suddenly going limp, preparing to take a header right into his pile of sick. Natasha sprang forward just in time, propping him up in his chair.
"Oh shit," Clint gasped, his earlier discomfort all but forgotten. "Is that blood?" That was all the rest of them needed to hear before they leapt up, coming around to hover over the ailing super soldier. Bruce pushed through everyone, kneeling down in front of Steve without worrying about the mess he was standing in.
"Captain Rogers, can you hear me?" Bruce asked, holding Steve's lolling head in his hands. He was blinking rapidly and his eyes were rolling around in his skull, but he wasn't focusing on anything. "His pupils are completely blown."
"How hard does a super soldier have to hit his head to get a concussion?" Tony wondered.
"Pretty damn hard," Bruce muttered, lifting Steve's eyelids to get a better look. "He's burning up."
"M'fine," Steve slurred, lifting his hand to try to bat away Bruce's hold. It looked about as strong as a newborn kitten though.
"I'd hate to see what he looks like when he admits he's hurt," Tony scoffed, using humor to cover up his fear. Sure, he hadn't really gotten along with the guy, but he didn't want to see him like this. When push came to shove, they'd put aside their differences and worked together well. Tony planned on trying to talk to him again when emotions weren't running so high, so they could find some kind of middle ground, but that wouldn't work if Steve was dead.
"Did you hit your head?" Bruce asked, feeling along Steve's scalp for some kind of contusion.
"Maybe," Steve mumbled, flopping his head onto Natasha's shoulder where she was ducked down to help hold him upright for Bruce's exam.
"He was shot with a Chitauri weapon during battle, if that helps," Thor said.
"What!" the rest of them yelled in unison. Suddenly there were hands all over him, searching for the wound. Tony knew Bruce found it when he touched Steve's side and the man let out the tiniest whimper.
"How the hell did we miss that?" Natasha hissed.
"We were a little busy at the time," Tony grumbled.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Clint snapped at Thor.
"He got back up like a strong warrior. I thought he'd be fine like I was, after my brother stabbed me," Thor said defensively.
"Everyone be quiet! Arguing isn't going to help anything right now," Bruce shouted, trying to get a closer look at the injury. "I can't see anything in here, although I'm not sure how much help I'd be."
"I think I'm okay," Steve murmured, immediately branding himself a liar when his eyes rolled back into his head and he lost consciousness. Natasha and Bruce caught him before he could fall, leaning him back against the restaurant chair.
"Help me get him on the table!" Bruce commanded, gesturing for Thor. Tony swept his arm across the table, sending the rest of their meal clattering to the floor.
"I'll pay for it," Tony assured the frazzled staff, making a note to give them a hefty sum and get them to sign NDAs for good measure. Thor scooped Steve up disturbingly easily, laying him carefully on the metal table. Thank goodness it wasn't some cheap, plastic thing and was able to hold the man's weight.
"I need to get a better look at this wound," Bruce mumbled, looking for a way to get the top of the uniform off. Thor reached over and grabbed the torn area around the injury, ripping it open.
"Oh God," Tony whispered. The skin where the blast hit was charred black and there were tendrils of blue streaking out from the center. "He's been alien poisoned."
"What am I looking at here?" Bruce asked, keeping his hands away from touching anything. Tony couldn't blame him. What if it was contagious?
"I don't know. I'm not well versed in the weaponry of those creatures," Thor replied.
"Well, that's just great! Just one more thing to thank your brother for!" Clint snapped.
"Loki is troubled."
"I'm not the one to defend him to," Clint snarled.
"Attacking each other isn't going to help Steve," Natasha said, pushing Clint back a little. "We need a real plan."
"We should get him back to the tower. I have a lab and maybe Jarvis can scan the wound and figure out how to fix this," Tony declared. Thor picked Steve back up, cradling him carefully against his broad chest. Steve looked so small, something Tony never thought he'd say about the larger than life super soldier. The man his father always talked about with such reverence should never look so fragile.
"Lead the way," Thor said, tipping his head toward the door. Tony darted out of the restaurant with everyone else hot on his heels. His tower wasn't too far away, but every foot felt like a mile. He hoped they'd be able to get there and figure this out in time, before it was too late.