Shuri was looking up at Steve, her eyes darting between his. She jerked her arm out of his grip. "I am not some mad scientist whose goal it is to torture this woman." She spat through gritted teeth. "I am not going to stand by and do nothing while the greatest discovery concerning our origin as a species decides if she wants pasta or beef roast. She holds secrets we've been searching for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Some compromise is necessary."

Steve squared himself where he stood between Jane and Shuri.

With that, Shuri slammed her tablet down on the stainless steel surface behind her and stormed out of the room.

Jane jumped at the loud slam and watched Shuri as she left. Steve was composing himself before he turned to greet her.

"Good morning. How are you feeling?"

"Good morning." She said up to him. "My body feels stronger than the last time I saw you, though, I remain hungry." Her eyes were still following a retreating Shuri.

When Shuri disappeared from view, she turned her gaze to Steve.

"How long do I have to stay here?" She asked in a hushed tone, desperation shining in her eyes.

Steve gave the ground a quick glance. "What did they give you to eat this morning?"

"The same I had last night."

"Well, I think you and I should go and get some real food. I'm starving."

Jane frowned. Unsure of what that meant.

Steve began to rummage through the cabinets below a long steel table in the lab until he found what he was looking for.

Tossing the set of dark blue scrubs on the bed next to Jane, he said. "Get changed into that and I'll go and show you the cafeteria."

Jane looked down at the hospital gown she was wearing, very aware of the opening at the back. Without a word, she got up and began to untie the knots holding it around her.

Steve stepped outside of the room and activated the screen so she could have some privacy and waited for her outside. It took her a few minutes, and when she emerged, she had the pants on back to front.

Steve looked like he wanted to grin at the honest mistake. He explained that with this garment the tie needed to be in the front. She retreated behind the screen and returned, pants fixed. The scrubs were about two sizes too big for her, but the dark blue looked good against her skin. It accentuated her unusual eyes, making them appear a deeper shade of blue.

Steve led the way out of the lab, with Jane following closely behind. She noticed how much lighter the air was outside of the lab.

"What is a cafeteria?" She asked.

"It's a hall where people eat." Answered Steve.

"Like a feast?"

"Not quite."

The staff cafeteria was just down the hall from his room, which they passed on the way. It was Monday, and everything was in full swing. They could hear the staff from a distance. It seemed like they'd made it just in time to catch breakfast.

The cafeteria was alive with chatter, mostly in Wakandan. It stopped promptly though as soon as everyone noticed that Jane was with Steve. She stopped at the sudden silence and looked around the room at the staring people. There were a few tables with two to five people around them. She decided it's better with Steve between her and the probing eyes and stepped behind him.

"As you were." Said Steve to the room.

A few muted conversations started up again here and there.

Jane kept Steve between her and the others in the cafeteria like a shield. It was only when they reached the counter and the smell of frying bacon filled her nose that she peered out from behind him.

Steve handed Jane a plate and took one for himself.

"Ladies first." He gestured for her to start at the first station. In front of her stood a young Wakandan man in chef's garb. His job was to fry eggs on request. Not sure how to handle his already fabled customer, he waited for her to speak first.

Steve explained to her briefly that she could request one or two eggs and how the chef should cook them for her.

She requested two, to be cooked the way "most people in this century preferred them". So the young chef delivered two fried eggs, sunny side up.

She moved on to the next station while Steve took his turn. She took two sausages, three strips of bacon, some mushrooms, and a warm bun.

Steve was finished just behind her and grabbed utensils for them both.

"Where would you like to sit?" He asked.

"I can sit anywhere?" She seemed surprised.

"Anywhere you want."

She walked over to the table furthest from the other people in the cafeteria and the two sat down. She watched as, without a word, Steve started eating and then copied how he was using his knife and fork. Once she got stuck in, she could feel life returning to her with every mouthful.

Steve got up mid-meal and fetched them each a cup of coffee. Jane grimaced at first at the bitter hot liquid but soon found that she quite enjoyed it. She noticed that Steve never really looked up or around him, he kept his eyes on his plate, with a seemingly permanent furrow in his brow.

Jane wondered why he was so serious all the time. He seemed to be chained to his own mind with a heavy heart.

When she'd finished, she looked down at her empty plate. As if reading her mind, Steve put down his knife and fork.

"Come on, let's go get some more, I've not quite had enough either."

They'd each finished a similar portion as the first time around with another cup of coffee when Shuri and two doctors came rushing into the cafeteria.

"There they are!" Shuri slowed to a brisk walk until she came to a standstill next to Steve.

"What are you doing? She's not supposed to leave the lab, and she's not ready for such rich food! You may have just made her very sick!"

Steve took another sip of his coffee in silence

Jane watched intently.

"Come, Jane, we're going to take you back to the lab now to see if you're okay."

One of the doctors took hold of Jane's arm, but she pulled away, muttering "don't touch me!" and looked up at Shuri.

"I am okay. There is no need to take me back to that place to see what you have already seen."

Shuri's eyebrows shot up. "I leave you with her for an hour, and she doesn't want to cooperate at all anymore."

"I do not like the things you do to me." Said Jane.

Shuri took a subconscious step back as Jane's words washed over her. She was quiet for a second as she processed.

"I am sorry Jane; I would never have... done anything if I'd known that you didn't want me to."

"You did not ask me." Jane paused for a second.

"I do not want to return to that place." She implored.

"I'm sure your brother won't mind if she takes one of the empty staff quarters down the hall." Said Steve without making eye contact.

Shuri quickly began to bargain. "I don't know Steve; it's too soon... I will be willing to entertain the idea only on condition that she checks in with the medical team twice a day, morning and evening and anytime she feels even the slightest bit ill or strange. During that time we would like to take blood samples and do a few routine tests. Oh, and she may not leave the Design Institute Complex.

"Am I your prisoner?" asked Jane indignantly.

"No, no. Most definitely not, we're just trying to keep you safe." Said Shuri.

"From what?" Jane felt a sudden pang of unease.

"There are other people, bad people who may or may not know that you are here. We can not risk them figuring out who you are."

"How do I know that you are not bad people?"

Shuri didn't know what to say.

"The only way to really find out if we're good or bad is to spend time with us to get to know us." Said Steve, looking at Jane.

Her eyes glazed over for a second. "What if I am bad?" She asked him.

"Until I've spent some time with you to get to know you, I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt." Steve shot Shuri a sidelong glance as he finished his sentence, there was a sentiment that Jane was a threat brewing around the Design Institute that he didn't like.

Jane's eyes searched Steve's for any hint of insincerity, for a lie. She found none.

"I will agree to this if you agree not to keep me a prisoner." Said Jane.

"Looks like we have ourselves a deal." Steve had the faintest hint of a grin on his face as he looked from Jane to Shuri, but it was gone so fast that Jane thought she'd imagined it.

Shuri conceded a little reluctantly. "We will have to discuss this with my brother first."

Steve nodded in a manner that said 'of course' before Shuri turned on her heel and left, the two doctors in tow.

Jane sat back in her chair, staring at the empty doorway, stifling a yawn.

"You should probably get some more rest," said Steve, his frown had settled into its usual position again.

"I don't want to go back in there."

Steve thought for a moment. "You can use my room while we get everything arranged for yours."

She looked at him, eyes wide. She didn't understand why this man was being so kind to her through his mysterious sternness, but she was most grateful that he was. She somehow felt that out of all the people she'd come into contact with thus far, she could risk trusting him.

"Let's go." He said as he got up.

Jane walked next to Steve down the hall. They came to a standstill in front of a door. Steve let her walk in first. The room was small, all-white and crisp feeling. Steve walked over to the bathroom and showed her the shower, saying she was more than welcome to use it.

Jane sat down on the bed, folding her arms across her chest.

Steve made for the door. "Sleep tight", and with that, he shut the door behind him.

Jane waited for his footsteps to fade down the hall before she slipped under the covers. She laid her head on the pillow. A most comforting and pleasant smell filled her head, making it swim for a moment. She pressed her nose into it and took a slow breath. She drifted off on the addictiveness of it, falling into a deep sleep.