Toni's music crashed away in the background. But, honestly, after hearing what Steve thought was musical, Bucky didn't have a single complaint left about what Toni chose to listen to.

He watched, curiously, as Tony used the tiniest screwdriver he'd ever seen to adjust some sort of wiring mesh inside the metal glove she held in her other hand.

"Turn on that light for me, sweetheart," she said, voice distracted.

He obediently tapped the wall switch with the tip of his claw and an overhead pinpoint light flicked on.

She grunted her thanks.

"That is so cool." Clint was seated across from her, leaning halfway over the table to watch. "This is like, a giant fantasy playground. I never wanna leave."

"Candyland," Bruce said under his breath. He pipetted a few clear drops of something into the bubbling flask on the burner at the next table.

"Hey, Hawkguy, you wanna get out there, take your turn?" Sam asked as he walked in, gesturing. Presumably indicating the growling and moaning noises outside the castle, growing steadily louder and beginning to drown out the music.

"Nah, I'm good here. You take it." Clint didn't take his eyes off Toni's work, grinning when it sparked and a blue glow briefly ran across the wires.

"Hell no, man! That's zombies out there! I ain't touching no zombie! They drip pus and rot and shit all over you. You know how long that takes to get out of my feathers?"

"Get Thor," Toni said without looking up. "He can use Mew Mew as a bowling ball."

"Bowling for zombies." Clint snickered.

"You two have clean up," she reminded. The glove began to hum.

Sam groaned in disgust while Clint dropped back in his seat, making gagging noises.

"Natasha's rules," Bucky started.

"Whoever on the roster doesn't fight, cleans up," the whole room chorused together.

"Unless they're in the middle of a critical experiment." Bruce took a step back from the flask of, now boiling, black, tar-like substance. An odd smell filled the air, like something both burnt and roasted.

"Of course Nat and Steve are back at HQ," Clint grumbled as he picked himself up out of the chair.

"I'm too old for this shit." Sam left, wings drooping. Clint slumped after him, looking like he was halfway to being undead himself.

There was a fzzz sound from the glove and the hum died out.

"Shit." Toni sighed before dropping the screwdriver and rubbing her eyes tiredly.

Bucky didn't know what went wrong, but he reached down to very gently pat her on the back with the side of a finger. It'd be easier if he could hug her, maybe then-

"Here, try this." Bruce set two mugs on the table near Toni. Then flask held in tongs, he poured a measure of the steaming black tar into each before setting it aside.

Bucky didn't think that was a good idea, but Toni just grabbed one of the mugs and took a sip.

Although he watched anxiously, nothing happened except for Bruce drinking from his.

"Oh. Oh, wow!" Toni exclaimed suddenly, sitting upright, all vestiges of exhaustion stripped away, delight overtaking her expression "Bruce! You beautiful genius! This is a critical experiment!"

Bruce gave her a small, satisfied smile. "I call it 'coffee'."