King of Dreams

by Selenite

After 3 years of unavailing research, Jane meets a strange, dark-haired MIT graduate, whose brilliant mind may be the key to a breakthrough. But no one could have guessed that she might be the key to his lost memories. Eventual Lokane.

12. Shape of My Heart, Part III

Chapter 12: Shape of My Heart, Part III

I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs are weapons of war
I know that diamonds mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart

(Sting – Shape of My Heart)

---

ooOOOoo

"And I thought we'd be here first." Darcy sighed at the faint sound of music coming from the hall above and pouring down the stairs before them. "What else would be worth the effort of being dragged from the bed at 6 in the morning?" She grunted, rolling her big eyes in Jane's direction.

"It was 6:10 and yeah, I thought so, too." Jane said, frowning a little. She did not like it much. When she had woken up at 5:30 and realized she could not sleep anymore, she planned to get a load of work done this morning, no matter what, and no one was going to stop her, because she and Darcy would be the very first ones to arrive. Unless…

"Eric?" Darcy guessed, narrowing her eyes. "Sounds a bit like Eric."

"I wonder…" Jane murmured vaguely and ran up the stairway. It sounded like Pink Floyd, and well, she could still recall the last time she had heard this particular band and thought it was Eric listening.

The lyrics of 'Learning To Fly' together with the heavy smell of a poorly ventilated room flooded her senses upon entering Eric's office.

"Hey." Said Tony Stark who was currently sitting on the floor, his back leaned against the side of Leonard's table. Jane blinked a few times at the sight, but then a little smile crept on her face.

"Hey," she returned the greeting and walked closer. "You look… miserable. Both of you, actually." Her smile widening, Jane observed upon spotting Leonard in his chair. He wore the same green sweatpants and the worn Megadeth t-shirt from yesterday and was currently sitting with his long legs rested on the desk – his feet bare – and the keyboard in his lap. His fingers were moving, but it was hard to tell if they were actually typing. In any case, his nearly closed eyes were cast in shadow and spoke of tiredness and most likely a splitting headache. However, they sparkled a bit when Jane approached. Yet still, there was a heavy grey undertone to the typical lively green of his irises.

"That was kind of you." Showing a faint, apologetic smile Leonard murmured coarsely and then cleared his dry throat. "Hey Darcy."

"Morning." Said the latter, looking around the room with a knowing grin. "Seems you're quite ahead with the party."

"Hm." Tony answered, seemingly in too much pain to form words.

"But why here?" Jane furrowed her eyebrows, still smiling, and leaned against the desk. "What happened?"

"Well," motionless and with eyes still halfway closed, Leonard managed a laugh. "Honestly… I don't know." Then he tilted his head a fraction to squint at the window. "We simply woke up here."

"Entangled and covered with sticky sweat." Tony completed, and doubtless there would be a sly grin on his face provided his stiff features allowed him to make one.

"Hey man," Leonard turned his head back lazily, "I thought we agreed on not telling anyone." He said with the faint smile still in place.

"Ah, true…" Tony murmured, chuckling lightly and rubbing at his forehead. "But we would have to let the world know anyway, sooner or later."

"Is it just me or has this conversation turned the wrong way?" Darcy cut in, plumped down on Eric's chair and spun around in it.

"Has it?" Tony lifted his dark eyebrows. "When exactly? We were just talking about the great time we had together last night, right, Lenny?"

"Shut up." Lenny replied.

"See?" Said Tony, openly ignoring the last remark as he turned to Darcy, his sight never really reaching her. "One could not possibly wish for a better drinking fellow."

"Yeah, sounds familiar." Darcy purred, pushing herself to the side to dart a meaningful look at Leonard.

"Ehm, so…" Jane finally spoke just to say something, and stepped over Tony's legs to get closer to Leonard. "What exactly could you be working on after such a fruitful night?"

He gave her a smile again and willing or not, her heart sped up a bit. "Chasing the particles, one at a time." He replied, in a low voice.

Jane crossed her arms before her and inclined her head in wonderment. "Did you say 'chasing'?"

"Correct." He nodded. "And I can tell I'm surprisingly good at it. Of course I expect it to reflect somehow on my salary."

Jane creased her forehead, giving him a highly suspicious look. She leaned forward to check what was actually happening on the screen of his computer. "Pac-Man?" Of course.

"Just before you say anything else," he blurted, lifting a finger as well as one of his dark eyebrows, "let me remind you that it's still 43 minutes till the beginning of my working hours."

"And are you sure you even want to begin your working hours?" Darcy stopped wheeling about in the chair to ask the question with an amused grin.

And despite a sudden and unbidden shudder of her insides as Jane wished for Darcy to shut up – or at least not speak to Leonard in this tone – she had to agree. Her eyes flew over the young man once more, noticing the weary eyes, the loose, unkempt hair, the sweaty clothing and his bare feet. "Yeah, are you sure?" she said then, with a bit of concern in her voice this time. "If you promise you'll give your job a try during the weekend, I could let you go home for today."

"Oh, my good lady could let me?" His half-closed eyes narrowed even more. He was plainly teasing her.

"Yes." Jane admitted carefully. "But if you wish to stay and work after all, I won't stop you." She chirped then and began to turn from him, throwing her hands up in a resigned gesture. "Anyway, do as you please," she claimed while stepping over Tony's stretched-out legs once more, "I'm going to make me some coffee. Anyone joining me?" Jane called over her shoulder just before walking out the room. But all she found was that Tony's and Leonard's shoulders were shaking with muffled laughter, and it seemed Darcy was chuckling, too. It was clear they were laughing at her, but for what reason, Jane was not in the mood to find out just then.

Down in the kitchenette, she had prepared her cup and stubbornly poured just enough water for her into the kettle. She fell into the nearest chair, gazed at the white surfaces that surrounded her, and rubbed at her brow. Somehow she just had to wonder if this was the proper start of the day.

The water started to hum already, but she could still not overhear the approaching footsteps. They were silent, mere whispers of bare feet against the floor, but she was still aware of them coming. After some hesitation, she turned her eyes toward the entrance, and saw Leonard standing across the table.

"Now then, what brings our cool party fellow here?" Turning fully and resting her elbows on the white desk, Jane asked, letting out a bit of coldness. "Is the fun over?"

"Well," Leonard scratched at the back of his head, "Where there's Tony Stark, the fun is never really over, I'm afraid."

"And where did all the fondness come from all of a sudden?" Jane purred, relaxing a bit, but then her eyes widened. "Wait, how did the poker game end at all? Did you win?"

"Uh… How to put it…" He said as he propped his long arms against the backrest of a chair before him, "It's a long story. I'd sooner tell you over a nice cup of… coffee? Please..?" He inclined his head, the look in his eyes all innocence.

"Coffee, you say?" She raised her eyebrows in feigned surprise, viewing him with a tiny little smile. "You know, I was about to make more than one, provided someone listened to the offer. But then I thought you might just overhear me over all that sudden merriment. What was it about by the way?"

"Whoa, wait. Firstly, I can always hear you clearly, my lady." he corrected promptly, raising a forefinger. "And secondly, uh… what was the question again?" He asked silkily, mischief twinkling in his eyes.

"Funny," Jane made a face. "Okay… So now hear me say 'Please, serve yourself'." She said and gestured at the cupboard, raising her voice over the murmur of the water almost boiling.

"Jane, please." He added a smile to support his plea that made Jane struggle to hide her wonderment at how possibly could his facial features turn from worn out and grey to cunning and appealing in such a short moment. Still, she resisted bravely.

"As I said." Jane said sweetly and gestured once more. Oh my, I'm being disgustingly insufferable right now, she thought when he dropped his gaze. And for what really? Jane asked herself. Of course that somewhere deep inside she knew, but was successful in denying it again.

Leonard looked away for a moment, as if buying time to consider something; then he turned back. "I can make you, you know?"

"Ohoh!" Jane stirred in her seat. "And how would you do that, my lord?"

He shrugged. "Usual stuff. Some warnings, torture… things like that." He stated, sounding uninterested, and walked lazily around the table.

Jane straightened her back in awareness but remained seated. Her eyes followed him as he approached and passed by, but before she could as much as take another breath, the chair beneath her swung back, pulling her weight along. She let out a soft squeak and held firmly by the edges of the seat, but somehow she resisted the urge to bend forward and tilted her head back instead. She looked up and saw his face looming above hers. The ends of his long, unkempt black hair were nearly touching her cheekbones.

Jane blinked a few times and pretended that the blush did not belong to her face. "You mentioned some warnings." She complained, but it sounded a great deal squeakier than she intended.

"Yes." He admitted, bringing the backrest a bit lower, his green eyes smiling and sparkling with mischief. "I mentioned them. What of it?"

"You…"

"Hm..?"

"I'll call you Lenny." With her smile back in place, she threatened.

"Then I'll call you Dr. Foster." He replied sweetly.

"Oh, please." Jane closed her eyes, grinning.

"Please?" He repeated, raising his dark eyebrows. "What is it, Jane? Come on, I'm one step ahead. Say your threat."

She could not help it and let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Well, then I… I will tickle you." She blurted out, laughing.

"Not bad." He said, his lips twirling with a smile. "But perhaps under different circumstances. If you tickle me now, then I fear I may drop you." He explained patiently, his voice colored with a slightly mocking undertone. "Now, isn't it a checkmate?"

Perhaps at a different occasion and with a different person, Jane wouldn't have taken it as easily. She was not very fond of rocking in the chair (and she knew that he knew), and had it been anyone else, Jane would have surely expressed her discomfort and demanded to be put back right away. But now… She could not really tell why (or perhaps just denied to admit the truth), but she felt perfectly safe. Jane just knew Leonard would never let any harm come to her. No, what she felt at the moment was far away from discomfort. It was… something else entirely.

For a moment, Jane just viewed him, looking into his cheerful eyes. She could see the honest joy in there, this ever so strange glimmer that had the power to enlighten even the gloomiest day, and she just had to smile back. She could smell traces of alcohol and his sweat, but somehow she just did not mind. In fact, it only reminded her of having buried her face into his pillow the day before, breathing in his scent.

The kettle clicked and the water was ready.

"All right, you got me. I'll make you that coffee." She said, reconciled, watching him still. "Could you put me back now?" She asked.

At first, Leonard just watched, silent and motionless. His eyes were clear and thoughtful, but something within suddenly stirred restlessly. Jane's smile faded a bit as she focused on this strange expression of his, because she knew it. Clearly, he was hesitant about something. It felt like he wanted to say or do something he was not entirely certain he should. Instead, he just kept observing her intently, letting the restless twinkle in his eyes tease her imagination. The moment was getting long and Jane could feel her heart beat faster. She held her breath as he lowered his head a fraction further. His lips parted.

"As you say, my lady." She heard him say, and then he averted his eyes and straightened.

Her eyelids fluttered nervously. Confused, Jane let out the breath she had been holding, but said nothing. She just cleared her throat and when she was finally allowed to she stood up and walked to the cupboard, stubbornly fighting the dizziness the very last moments gave her. What sort of game was that?

She took the kettle by the handle then, her movement measured and slow. There Jane smiled quickly, and bit her lip. Okay, let's have some fun.

She poured the hot water into her cup, filling it attentively to the rim, and watched the foam appear in silence. Then she put the kettle down, took the little spoon and mixed the silkily dark beverage slowly, savoring each turn and taking her time inhaling the wonderful smell. She held the cup carefully by the handle then, blew at the surface, and despite her promise to make another coffee, she turned around, and sat back in her chair. Her lips were twisting with the suppressed smile as she was brushing the coffee foam with the spoon softly.

As Jane expected, Leonard had just watched her doing all of it, not making any move. "Um," he began after a long moment of consternated silence, and put a thoughtful forefinger against his lips. "Is it just me or did my cup of coffee disappear in a space-time leak?"

Of course he was still speaking when Jane simply could not take it anymore and burst in giggles.

"Well, um," not looking up and still fighting back the laughter, she continued toying with the foam. "I said I would make you that coffee… But have I really specified the time? But no worries, surely one day I will." Letting the tip of her tongue linger at her upper lip a little longer than necessary, she raised her eyes to him.

"What an old trick. I should have seen it coming." He sighed miserably. "But anyway, Jane Foster, what are you trying to achieve by tricking me? Are you possibly aware of what you have started?" He said in a soft, but somewhat threatening voice.

She swallowed a spoonful of the foam and then shrugged, smiling. "I guess we'll see."

"We will." Leonard agreed. He kept viewing her for another long moment before he turned to open the cupboard.

"Hey, hey, I'll do that, okay? Just sit down." Jane leapt to her feet before he could find his mug. "You look tired." She added with a grin and filled the kettle once again.

"Oh, I am." He confirmed and rubbing the weariness from his eye, he sat down slowly, brought one knee up to support his head, and remained silent.

He had his eyes closed when Jane turned to him, and it almost looked like he was asleep. "Ice-cream?" she asked carefully after having stood the freshly made coffee on the desk before him.

One eye opened. "That would be most kind of you," he murmured, watching her with a weary, grateful smile, "but I fear someone ate it in the night… Or I think so. But even if there was some I think I would omit it today."

"I see." Jane replied and sat down beside him. "So, what about that infamous poker game?"

"Um…" Leonard narrowed his eyes as if to refresh his memory, "the thing is, there actually was no poker game. As far as I remember. We simply began with some chatter and drinking… then a little Tetris tournament…"

"Aw, I'm starting to regret I wasn't there." Jane grinned and sipped the black liquid from her spoon. "Who won?"

"Why, me of course. Did you really have to ask that question?" He shook his head in disbelieve.

"Sorry." Jane giggled, shrugging.

"After an exhausting battle with the beautiful Miss Potts." He added then, easing his head on his bent knee again.

"Beautiful, you say?" Her eyebrows went up.

"Yes." His lips twitched into a soft smile and his look sharpened, as if he was waiting for something. "Or do you disagree?"

"No. I just… I think this statement could drive some people jealous." She said in the end, reddening in the process.

"Oh, truly?" his smile got wider. "I wasn't quite aware of such people. Could you please name them? So I can be careful around them the next time."

"Well… what about Tony for instance?" She offered, unable to look in his eyes.

"I don't think so." He chuckled lightly. "But that's one person. Who's next?"

"Ah," with her gaze firmly fixated on her cup and her back quite literally against the wall, Jane simply rubbed at her temple, unable to speak.

"Did someone mention my name?" A well-known voice with a bit of hoarseness cut in, and Jane was never so glad to see Anthony Stark in the doorway. Or was she?

"Yes. We were discussing how bad you are at Tetris compared to your beautiful fiancé." Leonard announced openly.

"Yeah, might be." Said Tony and yawned, showing no signs of getting jealous at the word 'beautiful'. "But poker, that's quite a different thing." He added, his eyes two narrow slits aimed at Leonard. "You know… I think I'm gonna be so generous as to let you keep your hair color. But you must cut those locks when you lose."

"Oh, thank you Tony, my friend." Leonard answered, bringing the annoying calm in his face to perfection. "But never fear. That won't happen."

---

ooOOOoo

The soft chime of the doorbell echoed throughout the hall and seeped into the bathroom.

"Jane? You ready? The guys are here." Darcy announced quite meaninglessly.

"One minute!" Jane called out loud in reply. "Ouch!" she added silently as she drove the brush of the mascara straight between her eyelids. "Hopeless, Jane. You're hopeless." She murmured, finishing the tedious job of putting on some make-up. It was not like she could not do it herself, she had just become unused to it. During her studies, she used to wear make-up almost every day, but as the time kept passing and her work overwhelming her, she had forsaken the habit bit by bit, and cared to put on make-up just for special occasions. Not to mention there was no one to wear it for in the first place, was it?

But this evening was special in a way, and Jane had thought she might give it a try after all. And if not on an occasion as this one, then when?

"Here we go." Jane said barely audibly as she finished her artwork. She put down the mascara and viewed her reflection critically. Well, she had imagined it a bit different. Maybe this was too soft and decent for the evening, but after a moment she had to nod her head and agree that it actually looked pretty. Decent or no, she managed to combine the right colors to fit both her eyes and dress.

The said soft, short purple dress was actually Darcy's idea. Or better said, Darcy had not even allowed a discussion on the matter as she had simply plucked the dress out of Jane's wardrobe stating 'Wear this or nothing'. It was a long time since Jane had worn this one; she had nearly forgotten about its existence, but to her great surprise it still fit perfectly.

As for the hair, Jane decided to comb it up into a nice bun and curl the remaining tress that tumbled down the side of her face. The next necessary thing was a simple white pearl necklace her mother used to wear. Then the tiny, matching earrings and she was ready to go. Which was right now.

Jane smiled softly as she turned from the mirror and leaned back against the basin. "So, what do you say? Can I leave the house like that?"

Darcy bit her lower lip as she looked Jane up and down. "No, you really shouldn't, dear."

"Hey!" Jane exclaimed with a giggle. "I really tried."

"No, I'm sorry." Leaning against the doorframe and crossing her arms, Darcy shook her head. "That's… You're simply too hot to leave the house, that's it. I made a monster of hotness."

"You?"

"I chose the dress, you remember?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, yeah." Darcy grinned. She, on the other hand, did not require any help with dressing herself. Jane knew that Darcy strictly preferred her own style and allowed no debate. Tonight she chose a plain white blouse and elegant, finely striped greyish pants with a matching vest, jacket and hat. Her dark hair was lose, but gathered at one shoulder. To bring in some color, she'd put on a string of blood-red beads and lipstick and nail polish of the same shade.

Darcy's red lips shone with a bright smile as she extended her hand. "Shall we, my princess?" She asked, inclining her head, her eyes sparkling.

"Of course." Jane returned the smile and her heart leapt with a warm sensation at Darcy's gesture. They still were the best friends, weren't they?

The doorbell chimed twice more when they walked out the bathroom into the dim hall.

"Coming! Just a sec!" Darcy shouted and bent down to put on her high heels. And they were high, Jane acknowledged with a mixed portion of admiration and jealousy. She herself had never learned to wear them and had given up on it completely after spraining an ankle.

And thus, pursing her lips helplessly at Darcy growing up considerably upon putting on the shoes, Jane slipped into her black ballet flats. She checked her purse again if she had everything. "Have you seen my keys?" she asked with a worried frown.

"Right here, sweetie." Darcy purred as she pulled the item from the lock. "Catch." She said, tossed the bunch at Jane and opened the door.

"Hey, that's pretty cool. Now just a Gatling in your hands and it would be perfect!" Slipping into an elegant black jacket Jane heard Tek admiring Darcy's outfit and unbidden, her heart leapt once more. She wondered what words the guys would have for her. Trying hard to calm down, she blew out the air from her lungs slowly, turned to the door, took the doorknob and stepped out.

The last beams of the setting sun cast the narrow street in gold and orange on one side and shade on the other. Being suddenly out of the dimness of the hall, Jane squinted, and somehow still unable to face the company, kept her stare low and fixated on her hand as she was closing the door.

"No worries, I have other deadly items packed in my purse." Darcy replied. "They're quite required when I'm accompanying a hottie like this, you know."

"Darcy, please." Shaking her head, Jane grinned as she locked the door. Then, finally, she turned around.

And two twinkling green orbs were the first thing she placed her gaze upon. "Hey Leonard." She muttered weakly, glad for being able to say just this. If he had been looking totally worn-out and tired that morning, there was no trace of it now.

His eyes were as clear, thoughtful and striking as ever, his skin bright and porcelain, his eyelashes long and dark. His hair was loose this time, and combed back, the ends curling up slightly. He wore his usual black sneakers and black pants, but the green shirt Jane saw for the first time. And as everything he liked to wear, it suited him perfectly. The color matched his eyes, and its cut stressed out his lean shapes in a very fine, elegant way. Of course he had rolled the long sleeves up to his elbows, but with more care and attention this time, it would seem.

At first, Leonard just stood there, watching, but then his lips finally moved. "Jane." He said softly, consuming the sight of her in silence.

"This, Jane Foster, is what I call breath-taking." Tek cut in cheerfully, gesturing with his forefinger. "You should dress like that more often."

"Thank you." said Jane, somewhat disconcerted at Leonard's lack of words, "And I would if my job was to party." She concluded, hid the keys in her purse and moved to walk down the two steps from the doorway. What she hadn't expected though, was someone's hand taking hers. Her pulse skyrocketed. Surprised at how little was needed to make her react like that, Jane parted her lips, but managed to choke down the gasp.

Leonard was holding her gently, but firmly enough to support her as she descended the stairs. "You look wonderful, Jane. So much that it took all the words from me." He confessed, looking down at her now, and still holding her hand by the knuckles. During the statement, his face lit up with a touch of blush so clearly unintentional that it made Jane grin widely. She had never seen him like that and it filled her equally with surprise and the feeling of joy that had become so familiar to her recently.

"I'm sorry I couldn't say anything at first. But it's entirely your fault." He explained, squeezing his fingers around hers a bit more.

"Hey!" Darcy's and Tek's synchronized protest brought Jane down to earth rather unmercifully.

"Come on, sweethearts, we have a bet to settle." Darcy continued in a lower, conspiratorial voice as she sidled closer, sneaked her arm under Jane's elbow and dragged her along.

Of course Jane would rather walk beside Leonard, but he seemed not to complain about Darcy capturing her, and so it looked like they would absolve the rest of the journey in this arrangement. Jane could not say she felt happy about it – in fact, she could not repel the thought that Darcy meant to keep her as far from Leonard as possible.

But… No. No, no, no. Just stop it. Jane reprimanded herself. She did not want to think this way. This wasn't her. Right? All right. Jane sighed almost audibly.

She caught herself truly regretting Garo had excused himself for tonight. He was always gallant to her, and Jane was sure she would be holding him by the elbow by now, had he been with them. And yes, she would like it much better than being dragged by Darcy.

However, holding on Leonard's arm would still feel a hundred times better, Jane had to admit to herself. And maybe… Well, maybe she should finally stop running from these thoughts and embrace them instead. Because most likely there were no blond princes left searching for her anywhere.

An even if they were, she just could not wait anymore…

They were bound to Monster's Lair, a pub and music club Jane remembered since she had moved to Puente Antiguo years ago. It had a certain amount of reputation even before the events of Thor's banishment to Earth, and after that its fame could only grow. And as one the few places nearby, the pub still seemed to attract visitors from close and afar, despite the now fading interest in Puente Antiguo and its surroundings as a place of the rumored alien visit. Next profit it had to offer was the fact that it adjoined with a Native American casino of the same name, one of the few in this region of New Mexico.

Jane tried to recall the last time she visited said pub herself, and found with a start that it had been good few months ago. Was she truly that busy she couldn't find the time just to relax and have fun with friends? Had she truly become this grey, boring workaholic? But how? And when? There had been times she went outside almost every weekend…

Her lips tugged into a light, nostalgic smile. A remembrance of one night at the Monster's Lair a few months after Thor's departure came to her mind. It had been a cozy place filled with enthusiasm and new fresh thinking back then. After a few beers she was able to escape Eric's attention and ended up at a table with four postdocs from Europe, each one speaking with a different accent, but all of them young men hungry for sensation and knowledge. It was a wonderful evening, and Jane recalled how she'd had to bite her lip and focus on keeping nodding her head at one of the guy's bold theories that Puente Antiguo had actually much to do with the Tunguska event and would surely provide the long-desired answers. He even started to outline a paper he had supposedly come to collect the data for. Dima… you were so cute and charming in your own way. What might you be doing now? Jane had to wonder. She was pleased she could still remember his name. However, she and the guys had eventually finished their drinks on that night, wished sweet dreams and continued the separate ways. Jane had never heard about any of them since then.

All in all, in had been a strange time. She had felt desperate about Thor, the misery growing stronger each day he was not coming back as he had promised, but on the other hand, the presence of SHIELD and all the new people around her, the new project and development… it had been amazing having been a part of it. The adventure had not ended with the Destroyer's attack and Thor gone. It had just started.

Well, of course there had been raids of nerds and sensation seekers from all over the world after the mysterious events, even though the SHIELD had worked hard to force through a cover-up story. A number of psychologists had been called to take care of the local inhabitants persuading them that what they had seen was just an accident of a new air force technology being tested near the town. The official statement was that what actually had occurred was an impact of a very troublesome meteorite, which caused a wide-spread atmospheric and electromagnetic field anomaly resulting in the malfunction of most electronic devices in the area, including the made-up secret army project. And of course, the guilty meteorite's shape should have resembled a hammer.

…So much for Mjollnir and its owner.

But of course that could not have stopped the rumors reverberating throughout the country and more than enough listeners ready to believe them. And so the people had been coming, no matter that they would eventually just end up breaking camps in the desert dirt outside the city and listening to local men boasting about pulling a giant magical hammer out of a deep crater.

No wonder that the little, struggling town had suddenly burst out with life, with the scientists and intellectuals, madmen and people sniffing out money alike streaming in from all directions. Puente Antiguo had been literally growing up before one's eyes, and if not anything else, it had meant that Jane's days in her little neat trailer were numbered. Not waiting for the prices to jump up, Jane had promptly decided to use a part of the financial compensation SHIELD had provided her with, sell the trailer and buy a house, small but just hers, hers alone. Of course she had been quite certain she was going to stay in Puente Antiguo for a longer time. Plus, like this it had not been truly hard to persuade Darcy to stay as well.

However, as the months and years passed by, the flame of sensation had started to fade away and the streets to empty, the souvenir shops selling hammers of all sizes vanish one by one, and houses had begun to stand abandoned again.

But now it seemed that only time-proven places retained some liveliness... And that only truly interested, capable people keep coming to stay, Jane thought and peeked over her shoulder at one of them.

"We're almost there." Jane blurted, not knowing what else to say as Leonard returned the look.

He smiled. "Yes, I know."

"You've been there already?" Jane asked, wrenching free of Darcy's grasp and turning around to face him, walking backwards for a while.

His smile got wider. "I've lived here for a couple moths now. I've been there several times."

"See, Jane? Too much work keeps you from all the fun." Darcy purred. "I keep telling you all the time, right?"

"Yeah." Turning back again, Jane tugged at her collar and crossed her arms before her. This afternoon had been rather cold, and the evening was turning even colder, which fact made Jane wonder as to how Leonard managed to keep such warm hands. Unlike Tek, who was wrapped tightly in a jacket, Leonard wore just the green shirt. Of course it looked nice on him, but still… Well, they were all most likely going back home by taxi, so what.

They kept walking in silence until they reached the entrance of the pub. Muted sounds of live music were drifting through the closed door, and got considerably louder as the small party entered and walked through the dark entrance hall into the main room.

It was actually one of the reasons, if not the main one, why the Monster's Lair was so popular. Any band or a solo musician was welcome here to play and let the audience enjoy and judge their talent. And if there were no other artists to entertain the guests, the family that owned the pub took over the job themselves. The father, his son and daughter and her boyfriend called themselves The Monsters once on the stage and were more than capable of satisfying the cultural needs of the locals. They also weren't afraid of inviting volunteers from the audience to perform with them, which often resulted in each evening being special and enjoyable in its own way.

Seems the Monsters are already out of the lair, Jane mused as she and the small company walked through the entrance corridor. The music was getting more distinct with each step and flowed around in a nicely, slowly swaying rhythm.

Finally, the main room of the pub opened before them. They did not know yet to which table they were bound, and so they stopped at a small, symbolic handrail atop a broad stairway that divided the width of the room in the middle and separated a dance floor and the stage on the left from the area with tables and seats and the bar on the right. Attached to the wall adjacent to the bar was a jukebox - a device of necessity in this corner of the country. Right beside the device was a corridor leading to the restrooms and the passage to the casino.

Jane breathed in the familiar, somewhat stuffy scent and looked around. The room was decorated with dark wood, a few shades darker than the wooden tables and chairs. Heavy curtains hid the windows and the lamps seemed too old and small to provide enough light, so a continuous dimness ruled over the place, except the stage and the bar, which were lit sufficiently.

After examining the rest of the place, Jane's gaze eventually lingered on the stage. The Monsters seemed to have already gained numerous and avid audience for this evening. The only woman in the band, Amy, was a little blond who looked perhaps a bit tiny for her bass guitar, but she was amazing at it anyway. Her brother played the lead guitar with rivaling enthusiasm, shadowing their father on the same instrument. Next was Amy's boyfriend whom Jane knew the least – he stayed hidden behind his drums most of the time.

Jane was glad The Monsters played tonight, and even gladder for Amy's presence. The girl was also an outstanding singer, and it never felt quite right when her father would replace her anytime she was away playing with her own, Cranberries-revival band.

Focusing and narrowing her eyes, next Jane realized that there was already someone extra. The man singing obviously did not belong to the band and was apparently a volunteer from the pub's guests. And in addition, he looked terribly familiar to her. However, Jane could not recall where or when she had seen him last. Instead, an idea popped up in her mind, and it made her smile. Of course, this was a great chance to discover Leonard's talent in this field. They just had to persuade him – surely he was used to –

"Now, what have we here!" Leonard announced, looking at the stage, and derailed Jane's train of thought effectively. He turned to Darcy. "I think I know what I shall demand of you when you lose the bet, darling." Crossing his arms, he gestured with his chin at the man singing.

"No, thanks." Darcy replied acidly, but her look said something else as she turned to Leonard and observed him.

Jane felt uncomfortable with any bit of attention Darcy received from Leonard, but it was not in her intention to frown the entire evening, so she swallowed the bitterness and focused on the unknown, but familiar singer. And then she knew at once. She saw Eric, too, shouldering his way out of the small crowd. Jane smiled at him and gestured for him to come closer. He hopped up the wooden steps leading from the dance floor and approached them.

"Eric!" Jane exclaimed at her life-long friend and mentor, omitting the greeting, urging him to turn and view the stage. "That's Clint?" She said with a smile.

"Yeah, of course!" Darcy grinned.

Smiling, Eric hummed into his bottle of beer. He nodded then. "Indeed."

"But what he's doing here? I haven't seen him for ages." Jane gasped. "And I had no idea he could sing."

"No, he can't. But he's quite good at hiding it." Leonard commented dryly. Tek sniggered at that. "Hey! You should be the last one laughing, my friend." Leonard continued, darting a quick look at the IT expert. "Good evening, Eric." He added finally.

"Ah, good evening." Eric said at last, watching Clint pat the nearest members of the band on the shoulders and leave the stage as the song continued without the vocal part. "And I wouldn't be so strict judging the man, he did put some feelings into it, I'd say."

"Feelings?" Jane asked with a curiosity, raising one eyebrow. "How many beers did you have, Eric?"

"Jane, please. This one is the second." Eric rolled his eyes.

"Second? How long have you been here? Seriously, Eric, I don't – "

"Jane!" Scowling, Darcy jabbed an elbow into Jane's ribs. "He's a man grown, let him be." She reprimanded, crossing her arms. "If he wants to get drunk, he surely knows the consequences. Perhaps he'll manage to talk Hawkeye into dragging him back home."

"Must you bring this up all the time?" Eric protested, clearly a bit insecure, and hung the hand that held the bottle of beer considerably lower. "It was an accident. I do not require dragging home, thank you."

"My, my, this sounds like a most fascinating story. I'm all ears." Leonard chirped, grinning slyly.

"Uh, later, it's a… long story." Jane cut in promptly, suddenly intensively searching the other section of the pub. "I think we should take a seat now."

"Yeah, great idea. Evening, fair ladies!" A new voice approached, and when Jane turned in its direction, she found the sharp blue eyes of Clint Barton. They were vigilant and emotionless, although his lips were smiling. It felt so strange it gave Jane a chill.

"And no greeting for the gents?" Leonard replied, his voice low and reserved, attracting attention in a different way than Jane was used to. Standing between the two men, she waited for Clint's reaction. But he said nothing, only his eyes, cold and unfathomable, moved a fraction and focused on Leonard. Jane entwined her fingers.

"Easy, fancy pants. Ladies first." Clint said at last, his tone peaceful but harboring something cold. And without as much as a flutter of an eyelid he kept staring.

Jane could feel the atmosphere thicken when she looked back at Leonard and found the same, empty expression on his face. But then thoughtful lines appeared on his forehead and between his eyebrows. His lips parted again. "Have we met before?" He asked with a cautious interest.

Clutching her fingers tightly now, Jane turned back to Clint, perhaps to try and say something, but as she looked upon him, she could see that something was happening with the corner of his mouth. Yet still, his eyes resembled two motionless pools of blue coldness, and it was impossible to make out what he was thinking.

"Well, I can't deny it." Clint spoke at last. "People come and go… such is life. So…" he pursed his lips, looking Leonard up and down with a suspicion. "I've heard you're here to destroy us at poker?"

"Anything you wish." Leonard replied, completely emotionless. "But who's asking?"

At that, Jane felt like standing in a cross-fire. Sort of automatically, she took a step to the side and exchanged quick looks with Darcy, Tek and Eric, seeking for some compassion and maybe also a little bit of confusion in their eyes. However, it seemed that unlike her, they were actually enjoying this little exchange.

Clink took his time to speak. "Clint Barton." He said eventually, offering his right hand.

Leonard took it. "Barton…" He repeated with his eyes narrowed, shaking Clint's hand lightly. "What a relief."

Clint frowned this time. "What?"

Leonard shrugged. "I was almost afraid you were going to say 'Eastwood'."

"Hey!" Clint said, shortly displaying something that could be a little smile. He pointed a forefinger at Leonard's chest. "Listen carefully man. You ain't gonna soften my heart with flattery. No matter what you've been boasting of, you're gonna lose tonight."

"Look at that." Leonard smiled. "You have heart. I like it." His expression reminded Jane of a cat playing with its prey.

"Guys, we're glad to see you bonding," Darcy cut in there, "but I'd rather find our table and order some drinks. Yeah, and what about Stark? Is he here already?"

"Yes." Eric awakened. "Right here." He announced, gesturing with his chin.

"Guys, didn't I mention before that Miss Lewis here has the most wonderful ideas?" Approaching them with one hand in his pocket and a glass of champagne in the other, Tony Stark stated cheerfully, his face literally radiating mischief and self-confidence. He chose a white tuxedo this evening, a white tie and a softly pinkish shirt, and needless to say, he looked as dashing as ever.

Not too sure what to think of Clint's presence, Jane finally found herself enjoying the thought of meeting Pepper again. At last someone she would truly like to see and did not feel strange or tense or jealous around.

"Thank you, thanks a lot!" A voice suddenly cut through the room. Jane turned and saw it was the young guitarist on the stage speaking. The instrumental ending of the song had lasted quite long after Clint had left the stage, but now it seemed to have ended at last.

"And of course we'd like to thank Clint!" Amy, the girl on the bass guitar announced loudly. "Hey, I want some noise for him now!"

At her request, the audience started to turn their heads in all directions to spot said man, but even if most of them did not find him, they all cheered wildly. In response, Clint nodded his head in appreciation, grinning, and hid his face with his hand a few times. He almost looked shy, and it almost looked genuine. Jane could not help a little smile, too, especially when she saw that Leonard clapped his hands as well.

"And if you don't mind, we're gonna stick with Tommy Bolin's songs for a while." The father of the siblings and the leader of the band announced, taking his position at the microphone again. "Here's 'Teaser'."

"No!" Tony moaned into his glass.

"Hey!" Leonard exclaimed, furrowing his brow at Tony.

"Yeah. Hey!" Clint did the same, then looked at Leonard, curious. "You like Tommy Bolin?"

Leonard tucked his hands into his pockets, shrugging. "He's not on the absolute top of my charts, but..."

"Wait. You and that band of yours had performed the song Clint was trying to sing just a while ago." Tony added, gesturing with his tall glass.

"You remember?" Leonard wondered, half smiling, half frowning with disbelief.

"Why, I'm not called a genius for a poor memory." Tony purred and sipped at his champagne.

A sparkle or two appeared to have escaped Clint's blue eyes as he observed Leonard intently. He bit his lip. "Leonard, is it?" He asked carefully.

"Those who like Tommy Bolin may call me Lenny." Leonard announced, his green eyes smiling.

Clint watched him for a moment before he decided what to do. "Come on." He said at last, his tone completely changed, "Let's have a drink." He announced and headed to the bar.

Viewing every one with apologetic eyes, Leonard shrugged helplessly. "Sorry, guys." He said and followed.

"What was that?" Tony's eyebrows went up as he watched the two men leave. "Did I miss something?" He asked, feigning concern.

"Don't worry, we're asking ourselves the same question." Jane replied dryly. "I'm in a mood for a drink, too. Shall we?" she asked, and not waiting for a response, she followed the guys.

Leonard and Clint were already in a lively talk when the rest of the group joined them at the bar. And they were not alone. Beside them, two ladies were sitting on the high bar chairs. One of them was Pepper – tall, slender and very beautiful, wearing green satin dress.

The other one was of a shorter figure. She had chosen a black dress, and what rather caught the eye, her hair and lips were equally red. She was also attractive, but in a very different way than Pepper. Her features were soft and full – as were her other shapes, to be sure. However, she was not stout, no. Strong and muscly would describe her better. As they approached, their eyes met, and the woman caught Jane staring.

Jane averted her eyes quickly, but it was too late. The woman had already a little, amused smile on her lips.

"Hey everyone." Pepper got up and greeted friendly as the groups joined. "Jane!" She exclaimed then, "You look amazing!" She commented and took Jane's hand in both hers.

"Thank you." Jane smiled, "you too, ladies." She said politely and looked at the other woman.

"Yes, um," Pepper continued, "this beautiful woman here is Natalie, my capable assistant. Nat, this is Jane Foster, our cute but brilliant astrophysicist."

Cute..? Jane had to guard her eyebrow from jumping up.

Natalie stood up and shook Jane's hand. "Nice to meet you, Jane. I had no idea scientists are this pretty." She said in a somewhat hoarse, but comfortably melodic voice.

Jane smiled widely. "Uh, thank you." She said and darted a quick look at Leonard. He was standing on her left, just beside Pepper. So close... However, he was not looking back. He seemed too busy chatting with his new friend Clint and being served a glass of whiskey.

To complete Jane's dissatisfaction with the situation, Darcy sneaked up from behind and jabbed her forefingers into Leonard's ribs. He jumped up and turned around laughing. Darcy made a prompt step backwards, but when Leonard just leaned back against the bar, she came closer again and straightened his collar, commenting on his green shirt and how precisely it fit his eyes.

Jane felt sick. No. Just… No. Jane protested internally. Like today's morning, this evening did not seem to have begun the right way either. Well, definitely not the way Jane had imagined. For instance, she thought she would spend the time mainly talking and joking with Leonard. The way they did the evening before, and the morning in the kitchenette… Why couldn't they? Why did everything have to be like that? Why does it have to be Darcy who speaks the most and the loudest? And now Clint – a man she had known for so long… but had she really? She did not like this strange, hollow expression of his face, as if he was constantly hiding something. And what was he doing here anyway? Leonard's attitude had changed the moment the Hawkeye turned up. It felt like his interest in her had dissolved that instant. And Jane truly did not like this shift in mood. She hated it in fact. But little did she know, it got only worse.

When Darcy was quite done flirting with him for the time being, Leonard's attention turned to Clint and Tony completely. The three men seemed to have separated themselves from the rest of the party as it turned out they would be the only one's moving to the casino and joining a poker game. It became their main topic to discuss as they sipped on their drinks, and as soon as they finished them, they excused themselves for the most part of the evening.

But just before they left, Darcy sidled up to Leonard. "Hey, wait a sec, handsome." She said to him, propping her elbow on the bar desk.

Are you kidding me? Jane fumed inside.

"What?" he asked, standing close, too close to the girl. "Is my lady willing to give her knight a favor?"

"Sort of." Darcy purred, tilting her head to the side. "Please, be so kind and lose." She pleaded with him, reaching out her hand to curl one of his raven hair tresses over her finger. In that moment, Jane felt as if her insides knotted so tightly she might choke.

"Hm." Leonard looked up, as if giving the advice a thought. "I might try to make it seem I'm helpless for a while. You know, to bring in some fun. Yeah…" he nodded his head. "You really might have some good ideas, dear." He concluded and turned. And left. Without as much as a look.

After that, the party finally reluctantly moved to the reserved table, with Darcy in the lead. Jane watched her best friend walk and take a seat, and only then she realized she was still standing at the bar.

Feeling all stiff and burning from the inside, Jane turned slowly to take her drink. She hesitated. No, I can't. I just… To be honest, all she wanted to do was leave. Or better, run to the casino part of the building. But what was she supposed to do there? Having listened to the guys discussing the minimum stakes, she had enough sense to realize that tonight's game just wasn't meant for her. So what then?

"Jealousy issues?" A slightly hoarse, seductive voice intoned from behind.

Jane wheeled about with a start. "I… it's…" She panicked at the sudden, stunningly pertinent question, failing to find any suitable words to answer. "What?" inclining her head and frowning lightly, Jane blurted out, finally.

"She's your best friend?" Natalie asked, turning to look openly at Darcy at the table.

"She's – " murmuring to buy some time, Jane still struggled to find a possible way to get out of this.

"You don't have to explain." Natalie smiled knowingly. "I have eyes to see, and I saw clearly. Come on, finish your drink. The next one is on me."

"Thanks." Jane breathed out, finally able to form a statement. "I think I need one."

"Yeah, no worries. The others will make it without us for a moment." Natalie purred in her harshly melodic voice and turned to earn the bartender's attention.

And so it happened that after feeling like screaming and just running away from the place, Jane found herself enjoying the company of Natalie, a woman she met for the first time in her life, but after a few moments started to think they had known each other for years. She was unexpectedly kind and understanding and very enjoyable to listen to – the type of person you feel comfortable with discussing almost anything. And so finally, finally Jane realized she was talking about Leonard. Very carefully, truth, but even this little felt still totally inappropriate. Because no matter what her heart might have wanted her to feel or think, there was always Thor, her tall blond alien prince in shining armor. A prince who had promised to return for her, a man to whom she dedicated three years of her life… But was this the actual reason why had all the men, Leonard included, become a sort of taboo for her? Because of a dream of an immortal warrior and three wasted years of her life? But taking this into account, did she still love Thor? Had she ever at all?

No matter what was the true answer, it was Thor's shadow that had kept her all the time from admitting the reality to herself and to the others. Whenever Darcy had tried to discuss Leonard, what would usually happen? Jane would just always stubbornly pretend to be angry or annoyed with him, and without even a slightest interest. So what was she actually blaming Darcy for? The girl simply believed that she had a free way to go…

Yes, those realizations had a bitter taste, but even though it was a very insightful and refreshing talk. Still, Jane remained somewhat careful when she was asked directly in this sense. And especially when she was asked about Thor. But all in all, she could not see anything better to do at the moment than to stay and chatter with Nat at the bar.

There was no doubt Natalie was an intelligent woman with a rather hard, but also very interesting life and as their talk moved on to other topics, Jane listened to her with enthusiasm and here and there added her own comments and little stories. They ended up laughing many a time, and so Jane soon stopped scowling at Eric coming frequently to the bar and picking up rounds of tequila shots. After having finished the second herself, Jane decided just to melt into the refreshing talk and melancholic mood of the series of Cranberries' songs that were drifting up from the stage.

In the end, Jane barely noticed that Darcy and Pepper and the guys moved to the casino. Stubbornly, she turned away from them, pretending not to hear their prompts for her to come along. She chose to continue having a good time with Natalie instead, but on the other hand, she could not deny a certain nervousness settling all over her like a heavy cover. They'd said they were going just to have a look, but after a few tens of minutes it started to feel like ages. Jane had actually begun to think about checking on the situation herself, but then Darcy and Pepper suddenly reappeared next to the bar, both giggling, their faces flushed pink. The nostalgic sound of "Ode To My Family" was flowing through the air by then.

"So? Any news?" Not looking up from her glass, Jane asked Darcy rather loudly.

"Yeah." Darcy answered that instant and staggered closer, very close. "I think it's time to get ready for a short-haired Leonard." She said and patted Jane on the shoulder rather forcefully. Obviously, she managed to consume a couple more shots than Jane did.

"Well, we cannot say until the end of the game, can we?" Natalie objected.

"Whatever." Darcy shrugged, asked the bartender for another round and then staggered to the table.

Natalie turned in her seat and watched Darcy go.

However, unlike Darcy, Pepper stayed at the bar and slithered to Jane from the other side. Her joyous eyes seemed a bit clouded, and from the whiff of the alcohol smell Jane could say Pepper had gotten herself into a very cheerful mood as well.

"So, Jane. I think it's time for you to reveal what you intend with your pretty student." Pepper slurred finally, her tone harboring an unmistakable hint of alcohol-induced, conspiratorial mood.

"What? Well… if you mean Leonard…" Jane reddened there, "he's not my student."

"Oh, all the better!" Pepper beamed and giggled together with Natalie.

"Wait, what – what do you mean?" Jane smiled, blushing from ear to ear.

"I heard love affairs between students and their teachers are considered rather problematic, right?" Natalie purred in her harsh, seductive voice, and finished her shot of tequila at once. "Three more, please." She gestured at the bartender.

"But… what are you talking about?" Jane peeped into her glass, now feeling urged to finish the drink, and did not dare look up. She felt like she was standing between two extremely skilled torturers.

"You like him, do you?" Pepper asked, propping her elbow on the bar and almost lying down her head on the desk as she tried to get into Jane's view. "No, Jane, don't even try to deny it. I saw what I saw." She added more quietly, grinning.

Shifting slightly away from Pepper, Jane clutched her empty glass tightly and fixated her eyes on her hands. "Why, is this some conspiracy against me?" she murmured, just loud enough to be heard through the music.

"Why, yes, dear." Natalie purred again, leaning her back and elbows against the bar. She tilted her head back and to the side to give Jane a questioning look. "Come on, you've been dancing around it for a while now. Well?"

"Well, I…" Jane began insecurely. She just could not get rid of the feeling she should not say those words. Even if they were true.

"You?" Pepper encouraged, sliding closer on the bar desk.

Jane breathed in. And perhaps it was because of Darcy, or perhaps because of all the alcohol and the wistful songs, but Jane simply could not hold it back anymore. "Yes." She said simply. A wide smile spread across her face. "I do. I like him… Maybe too much." A huge rock fell off her chest, and she felt like weighing nothing. This was it. I'm sorry, Thor, I'm so sorry, but I just couldn't go on like this.

"Oh, good. But your pretty little best friend does not seem to mind." Nat commented dryly. Jane looked over her shoulder to find Darcy at their table.

"Yeah, she seems to like him, too. And she… It's actually my fault." Jane admitted aloud. "She is still my best friend, let her be. I'll handle it myself."

"Will you?" Pepper frowned suddenly. "But you really don't look like that, sweetie." She pointed out and pricked her forefinger into Jane's shoulder.

"Ow!" Jane protested. This was surprisingly brutal as well.

"Plus, if she were your true friend, she would admit Leonard likes you back in the first place. She should stop meddling." Natalie added, her back still turned to the bar.

"Me?" Jane smiled in a rather silly way. Darcy was forgotten in a heartbeat and Jane felt like laughing with joy. However, as a scientist she was used to save a certain portion of doubt for every outburst of happiness. "Why do you think he likes me?"

"Oh, please." Natalie rolled her eyes. "The way he was watching you spoke for itself."

"He was watching me?" Jane shook her head in disbelief. "Well, sorry but it seemed to me that once we entered this pub I stopped existing for him."

"Oh no, dear. He only watches you when he's sure you are not watching him back. He seems shy."

"But you seem like a talented watcher." Smirking, Jane brought her glass to her lips and sipped carefully.

Nat shrugged, looking around the room. "Practice."

Jane frowned. "Are you looking for someone?"

"Ah, no. You said it. I'm a watcher. I just like watching people." Nat replied, observing the groups of people around the tables and on the dance floor.

"But Jane, we ought to make a plan!" Pepper demanded attention again, rising her head up from the bar and taking her glass.

"What plan exactly do you have in mind?" Also willing just to watch people, Jane turned in her seat and leaned back against the bar, her drink in her hands.

"Plan on what you're going to do to get the man, what else." Pepper revealed, and sipped at her tequila, her eyebrows up.

But this actually sounded interesting. "Yes? What I should do then?" Looking down again, Jane bit her lip. "I'd like to learn from the chick who tamed the infamous Tony Stark."

"Haaardly." Pepper snorted, and then giggled lightly. "But thanks."

"My, it's so simple." Natalie sighed, sounding almost bored.

"Is it?" Jane lifted her eyebrows.

"Yeah. You should just dance with him. You know, touching each other, the swaying moves… Everything else will follow." Natalie smiled lightly.

Jane shivered. Just the thought of Leonard holding her in his arms was overwhelming. "But he will have to ask me." She murmured. "And what if he asks Darcy first?"

For once, Natalie turned to Jane and frowned. "Don't be silly. Even if he will, what about it?"

"What if she tries something?" Jane pointed out, feeling somewhat helpless.

"And that's why we ought to make a plan." Pepper cut in, throwing one arm around Jane's shoulders.

"Pep, you're drunk." Natalie reached out past Jane and put a forefinger under her blond friend's chin and examined her clouded blue eyes.

"Hey!" Pepper protested loudly, pushing Natalie away. "I'm just in the proper mood. Come on, Jane, listen to me, I got it. Once Leo comes back – "

"He hates that nickname." Jane pointed out and sipped at her drink.

"Whatever." Pepper waved her hand around her. "Anyway, when he comes back from the casino defeated, he'll need to be comforted. And that's your moment." She said, jabbing her finger right under Jane's collarbone again.

"That really hurts!" Jane scowled this time.

"Sorry." Pepper apologized, giggling and covering her mouth. "I might be a bit drunk after all. But..!" She said, rising her hand to draw attention to her newest idea. "I think the dancing is quite a good idea itself. Who's with me?"

"You want to dance with us to that?" Natalie waggled one eyebrow. It was still the nostalgic Cranberries ballad sounding throughout the place.

"Nat, relax, it doesn't matter. It's a nice song and that's enough. Isn't it, Jane?"

"Well, I…" Jane reddened again, "I'd prefer dancing with Leonard right now. To this particular song I mean."

"Heeeyyy! Look who's talking!" Pepper exclaimed cheerfully.

"So, um," Jane cleared her throat. She needed to get in to the proper mood, too. Desperately. "I suggest drinking some water first. Then another round of tequila, and if they play something nice, we go dancing, all right?"

"Yeah." Pepper agreed, and raised her hand, but Natalie swiftly caught her by the wrist before she could do any more harm to Jane's collarbone. "Easy, my friend." The redhead purred, digging her dark eyes into the blue ones.

However, no sooner than they finished their glasses of water, the band announced from the stage that they were going to rest for a while and the guests are welcome to use the jukebox. Pepper nearly spluttered. "The thing is mine!" She shrieked promptly. She turned from the bar and tried to hop down elegantly, but her long legs in high heels failed her and she literally fell off her chair, but Natalie was alert and nimble enough to catch her.

"Thanks, sweetie." Pepper showed an innocent smile. "You saved my life." She said and snatched her tequila from the bar.

"Yeah. But perhaps we should slow down a bit, huh?" Nat replied, wrestling the glass from Pepper's grasp.

"Natasha!" Pepper cried like a child who wants back her candy.

"Natasha?" Jane creased her forehead, putting her own glass down in wonderment.

"She calls me that when she doesn't want me to do the right thing. Right, Virginia?" Looking straight into Pepper's eyes, Natalie replied, her tone rather strict.

"Stop calling me that!" Pepper protested loudly and reached out to get her glass back.

"You first." Nat demanded with an uncompromising expression.

However, instead of answering, Pepper suddenly focused her attention elsewhere. "Hey!" She cried out and pointed at Eric, who was approaching the jukebox with some change in his hand. "Don't even think about that, dear!" She shouted and finally wrenched free. "Come on." She ordered and grabbed Jane by the wrist. And sighing, Jane gave in, pleading Natalie silently to follow. Luckily, she did.

"Listen, Pep, maybe we really should slow down." Jane pointed out carefully upon reaching the jukebox. "I'm sure Tony's going to blame me and Nat when he finds you – "

"Tony, you say?" Pepper let out a short snort, raising her eyebrows. "Well, then let me tell you something about my dear husband-to-be. He obeys just one rule in his life. And that is: 'I do what I want.' So, he wants to play poker because of some stupid bet and let me be alone the entire evening? Okay, fine. But then I mean to do what I want with my time! And now I want to have fun."

"Pepper, please…" Natalie sighed.

"You know… And why not?" Jane shrugged, realizing that Leonard did just the same. Since they'd entered the pub, he turned his attention completely away from her. What did his secret looks matter if they were just looks and nothing more? And then he left to gamble for the rest of the evening. So what, Jane decided and finished her glass in two quick gulps. "So, what's it going to be?" She asked.

"Hey, darling! 'Anyway You Want It'!" A man shouted from the crowd that had gathered around the bar in the meantime.

"Shut up!" Natalie shouted after him, arms crossed before her. "Go on, Pep, choose something. The crowd's getting nervous." She murmured then, leaning over slightly, but not turning her look away from the people.

"Whatever." Pepper replied calmly. "Haven't you heard, Nat? I do what I want tonight."

"Actually, I'd like that song." Jane pointed out.

"No, no, no, sweetie. I'm in a mood for some Jay Kay." Pepper muttered, focusing on searching the list.

"You know… You can put the songs in a queue here." Jane advised carefully.

"Shhh, just a second." Pepper raised a forefinger to silence any further comments. "Now, here we go… What was the song you wanted again? Wait, I know – 'Anyway You Want It', anyway you… now, that's over here… aaaand… yeah, call me your DJ tonight." Pepper finally looked up, a victorious smile on her face. "Come on, it's funky time!" She exclaimed, taking Jane by the hands, and started toward the dance floor. But then she stopped abruptly and turned back, bumping into Jane as a result.

"Oh, sorry!" Pepper apologized and bent down. "Just one thing. Could you please hold me for a while?" She asked with a mischievous smile, held on Jane's forearm and reached down to undo the straps on her shoes. She took them off, leapt to the bar and sat her black high-heels on the desk. "Please, sir, will you keep them safe?" She called after the poor bartender. But the man just smiled, picked up the shoes and hid them somewhere under the bar. Jane wondered what the man would demand to give them back again.

However, there was not much space for any other thoughts as in the next second Jane found herself on the dance floor, moving to the rhythm of "Canned Heat" by Jamiroquai. It was one of her favorites, Jane could not deny it, and whenever she recalled the verses, she sung the lyrics along with Pepper, who seemed to know the whole song by heart.

Luckily, Jane had no time for feeling awkward this time. She usually needed to get into a considerably more cheerful mood just to run to the dance floor and frolic like this. She considered herself an introvert; a closed and shy person who was always rather self-conscious about her dancing skills. But with so much positive energy radiating from Pepper and all the people around, Jane just could not help it but relax and give in to the music and merriment. Furthermore, Pepper seemed to have the time of her life, and it felt just perfectly fine to Jane that they sung together, held hands and jumped around like two silly teenage girls. It just did not matter, they were having fun, it was their moment, and it felt amazing. And when "Anyway You Want It" began, Natalie with Eric and Tek joined them. Darcy came, too, but Jane just did not mind. The people around got crazy and they all screamed the lyrics at the top of their lungs. They danced all together first, then Jane was snatched by Tek, then by Eric and then by Pepper again. She was singing and shouting and laughing and all the troubles just left her mind. The world outside stopped existing and there was just her surrounded with friends. And after another song (or two, or three, she wasn't sure) Jane had to loosen her hair while visiting the restrooms as her bun had almost completely come undone.

However, when she returned to the main room, a slow song was being played and Jane found out that her friends were at the table again. And when she was passing by the bar, to her astonishment she noticed Tony Stark, Clint and Leonard standing there ordering drinks.

They're back… Jane's heart raced. She slowed her pace, hoping to catch some words, or perhaps that Leonard would finally speak to her himself, but the three men remained standing with their backs turned to her and Jane just did not feel like shaking them by the shoulders to earn their attention. In the end she just passed by and sat down by their table. But as soon as she took her seat, the guys at the bar took their drinks and followed her.

"They look all somewhat torn, don't they?" Eric asked, leaning over to Pepper. She was watching Tony with curious eyes.

"Yeah." Pepper inclined her head to the side. "Could it be that the guy who intended to get rich tonight beat them all and won the prize for himself?"

"Now, that would be something. Oh, their poor ego…" Tek grinned as the men ambled closer, talking to each other quietly. When they finally stopped by their seats, Darcy lifted her dark eyebrows in anticipation. "So?"

"So what?" Leonard asked, not looking her in the eyes. He sipped at his drink and sat down slowly.

"What – what? What's the outcome? Who's the winner?" she insisted heatedly, stood up and propped her arms on the table desk.

"Well," he said, running a finger up and down his glass, watching it intently. Then he snorted out a short laugh. "I'm just trying to find the proper words."

"Come on." Clint patted him on the shoulder from behind. "There's no shame in it. Right, Stark?"

"Yeah." Tony made a tired face and rolled his eyes. "Go on, just admit the truth, bla bla bla... Everyone has to say it sometimes, so please don't play a wounded unicorn."

"Did you guys get hit in the head or what? Who's won?" Darcy cut in loudly, "Tell me now!"

"I know, right?" Leonard looked up accusingly at Tony, ignoring Darcy's prompts completely. "I just… No, I won't. It's cruel. It's inhuman. I won't do it. You can't make me."

"Oh-hoh, be sure we can, sweetie." Clint purred evilly. "You agreed with the terms. You can't take it back now."

"But what?!" Darcy almost shouted now, a smile threatening her lips as she smelled victory.

"All right," Leonard sighed. "As you wish. You want to torture me? Fine. Do as you please. But don't weep over me when you see the outcome." He stated firmly and finished the whiskey in one swift gulp and sat the glass back on the wooden desk forcefully. "So. I'm afraid that…"

"What?" Darcy asked again, a lot quieter this time, and Jane and the others leaned closer at once.

Leonard looked up then. He gazed straight into Darcy's eyes. "I'll have to ask you to sing for us, Darcy." He said simply. "I'm sorry, sweetheart."

Darcy's eyebrows just twitched lightly at first, and then came crushing together. "What did you say?"

With one hand in his pocket and the other holding the glass of whiskey, Tony turned away in that moment, clearing his throat and biting on his lower lip to hide the smile. Clint sat down, pursing his lips, his eyes watching the golden liquid in his glass.

"Any song you like. I'll leave the choice up to you." Leonard repeated quietly, brushing his fingertip over the rim of his glass.

"But… " Darcy was frowning deeply now, as if this was just a bad joke, a mere complot against her. Biting and pursing her lips, Jane dropped her look.

"The truth is I have won, Darcy Lewis." Leonard said calmly, his eyes burning into Darcy's. "Now, there's a certain bet to settle, if I'm not mistaken."

"But… I…" Darcy just kept opening and closing her mouth in consternation. And when the three poker players laughed openly, giving high fives to each other, she apparently had enough. She snorted, fuming. "Listen, you monster. You want me to sing?"

"Yes, please." Leonard nodded with a joyful smile. "Have you chosen a song for me? Think quickly, the band seems to be coming back." He said, tilting his head to the stage.

"And you know what?" Darcy snapped. "I'll do it. You wished for that."

"No!" Jane suddenly awakened, realizing which song Darcy had in mind.

"Oh yes." Darcy nodded her head, looking at everyone at the table. "You can't stop it. Please, bear with me."

"Darcy, please." Jane whined, furrowing her eyebrows.

"Sorry, Jane. A bet is a bet." Darcy threw up her arms, turned from the table and marched to the stage.

"No. No, just – Eric, say something." Jane pleaded, watching Darcy retreat.

"I guess no one can stop it now." Eric shrugged, grinning merrily.

Jane sighed. No, she did not mind Darcy's terrible singing. In fact she could let Darcy sing as long as her lungs worked, but only so long as Leonard was not present. Yes, precisely. The thing Jane was truly mad about was that Darcy was and would be getting all his attention again.

Turning her head away, Jane sighed. And perhaps I'm finally drunk. Those are childish thoughts. She mused. Why can't I have just fun like the others? She thought as she watched everyone around their table chatting lively and joking about the situation. Clint, Tony and Leonard were recapitulating the game, laughing and patting each other's shoulders each time they recalled an interesting or funny situation. Clint then sat down on the table desk to earn everyone's attention, and started to explain Leonard's tactics. It sounded like something quite close to admiration.

What a sudden change… Jane thought, observing Clint, but not really listening to him. It appeared that Leonard had a very good ability to attract people, regardless if they were men or women. Even the cool and calm Hawkeye seemed to have been seduced by this magic. But what about me? Is he just playing with me, too? What if he just enjoys getting my attention and waking my nervousness when he's around? Leaning her elbows on the table and turning her stare to the stage, Jane sighed heavily. She realized she did not want to listen to Clint's rant. And she refused to look upon Leonard. Why should she? He was neglecting her the entire time. In fact, she regretted telling Pepper and Nat she liked him. It felt just awkward now. And embarrassing.

A stir down on the stage stopped Jane's thoughts on the matter. Obviously, the needed rearrangements for the chosen song were done.

"Hey everyone. One, two, three…" Darcy greeted into the microphone, testing it at the same time. Her dark curls flowed about her and shone nicely in the spot light. Perhaps too nicely for Jane's liking. Darcy was turning around to the band members as they were returning to their places, sipping water and adjusting the cables.

"So dearies," Amy the bass player spoke to the audience. "I hope you're ready for some thrill." She looked around and smirked. "Let's get insane, guys." She teased, darting a quick look at Darcy. "Here comes Darcy… with the 'Psycho Killer'." She announced darkly. "Come on, make some noise for the girl!"

Darcy rolled her eyes at first, but smiled as the people beneath the stage and up around the tables cheered. Amy kicked off her shoes, nodded at her boyfriend behind the drums and let the first sounds fill the room.

"Okay guys." Darcy bowed her head and put one hand on the microphone. "This song was meant as a prize for that guy up there." Gesturing at Leonard, Darcy explained, her words falling into the rhythm of the song intro. "Serves you right, sweetie. Let's do it."

Jane knew and liked this song, and needles to say she preferred the original version. Darcy was out of tune too frequently, however… it was obvious that this song was not about being in tune but rather about the performance itself. Everyone seemed to be perfectly content with it – the people on the dance floor cheered and swayed back and forth and some even tried to sing along.

Leonard with Clint and Tony had stood up to have a better view. They had their arms crossed in front of them, poking each other with their elbows, chuckling and chatting, clearly judging the performance.

Amy helped Darcy with her voice a lot during the choruses, and somehow it worked out. People under the stage ended up shouting the lines with them, dancing and jumping and clapping their hands.

Eventually, Darcy happily managed even the French ending of the song and earned herself a thundering applause. Even Jane had to admit it wasn't bad at all and stood up and cheered with the others. She even felt her lips curl up into a friendly smile as Darcy had fought her way through the crowd and came back to their table. However, the smile froze right away as Leonard stepped forward, reached out to Darcy and wrapped his arms round her. He was saying some words, but Jane could not hear them.

They were not meant for her, after all.

Jane lost the focus for a moment, the image blurring before her. So much for Pepper's splendid plan… She felt so stupid for telling them about her feelings for Leonard. She felt so stupid for even having any. Because it was clear now that everything she had thought to be real was just her fantasy. Just a wishful thinking.

She looked around then. Pepper was hanging on Tony's neck now, Clint and Leonard were talking enthusiastically to Darcy – and the latter seemed to enjoy every bit of it. Eric and Tek were sprawling in their chairs, observing everything with a weary smile, and Natalie… Natalie was gone somewhere.

How come I feel the worst loneliness in the middle of a crowd, surrounded by my friends? Jane thought with a little, bitter smile touching her lips. Then perhaps it's time to go home? I wonder who'll notice me gone first…She shook her head internally, smiling even wider.

Back on the stage, the musicians dispersed, checking on the chords and cables on their instruments. Finally, Amy stepped up to her microphone again. Jane wondered if another volunteer would be asked to come forth. An amusing thought reached her. Would they notice if I volunteered? What should I sing, though..? Jane wondered, and couldn't help herself but think only of nasty songs. She snorted. That's laughable. I would start trembling uncontrollably even before I set my feet on the stage.

"Now then, we're still in the mood for one or two of you, darlings. What do you say?" Amy teased the crowd and managed to earn some noise, but no raised hands so far. Against her better judgment, Jane was still toying with the thought of trying it herself, but then Darcy caught Leonard by the forearm and tried to lift his hand up. He refused to obey the prompt with a silent, amused smile. Yes, Darcy let go after a moment, but just to flail her own arms and shout "Heey! Over here! This guy!" She cried out as if someone's life depended on it.

"That guy, really?" Amy purred from the stage, seemingly nicely surprised. Then she inclined her head focusing her eyes. "But we met before, right?"

Once again, Leonard shook his head, crossing his arms, but smiling politely.

"But what's that? Come on!" Pepper moaned in irritation, frowning. Her eyes were skipping from the stage to Leonard.

"Yeah, go on, man." Clint urged, poking Leonard with his muscly elbow.

"Leonard!, Leonard!" Eric begun, banging his hands against the desk, and one by one, their little company took on the chant. Jane, on the other hand, sat still and stiff. Her heart was pounding too wildly to even try and move.

There was a strange look on Leonard's face – something between light enthusiasm and embarrassment. His gaze went down as his smile transformed into something very close to that wonderful, cute expression he had showed upon their meeting a few hours before. Watching that, a warm sensation ran down Jane's spine unbidden, but she just could not help it.

Then he raised his head and their eyes met. It was only a split second, but Jane thought her heart would hammer its way out of her chest right there.

She felt petrified, unable to do anything, anything at all. He watched her for this short, elusive moment, and then cast his look down again. His expression changed, Jane managed to notice before he turned from her and walked slowly to the wide stairway, across the dance floor, and up to the stage.

Wait, was… was he expecting something? Did he want me to encourage him like the others did? Did he want me to show some interest? Jane panicked internally. What if that was the real reason the whole time?! What if he only was expecting her to start talking to him, to look at him?

Jane felt tears welling in her eyes. No, this just cannot be, she thought, hung her head and slid her thumb under the pearl string around her neck. What if it's been me the whole time? What if it's me who spoiled everything? No, no, no, it's his fault, his alone. He's the one overlooking me. A single, lonely tear rolled down her cheek, as lonely as herself. She wiped it out quickly. No one noticed.

She woke up of sorts as Eric started to talk to her all of a sudden. So at least one person sees me. Jane mused, looking everywhere but not at her mentor. After a while, she realized she was not even listening to him. Not that his words were too clear, anyway. Was he comforting her? Who could tell…

A repeated thud sounded from the stage and Jane turned her head automatically. She saw Leonard adjusting the microphone, surrounded by Amy and her brother, both of them holding acoustic guitars in their hands.

"So, uh…" Leonard began, looking around the room, "hey, I'm Leonard and… It's true that I contributed to the fun here in the past." He paused as several people from the audience shrieked in agreement. "I see that you remember, that's fine, that's very good. Um… was it okay?" Creasing his forehead a little, Leonard asked the part of the crowd that remembered him.

"Yeah!" they shouted in reply, some of them clapping their hands.

"Goodness, that's great to hear, thank you." Leonard smiled, the microphone transmitting the sound of his breath as he chuckled merrily. And despite her angered and saddened self, Jane had to love the way his voice filled the space. It felt wonderful just to listen to him talk, no matter what he was saying in truth. He could have been reading the TV program and Jane knew it would sound like the sweetest song to her.

"So, the last time I performed right here," Leonard resumed, "I asked the dear Monsters if they could play a certain song. Surprisingly enough, they couldn't, however – " he chuckled again as Amy held him by the neck playfully. "However," he stressed out once more as Amy let go of him, "they made certain amends and rehearsed at least the acoustic version. So, we're going to continue in this lightly French mood it would seem. Here's one of my most favorite songs by Megadeth. It's called 'A Tout Le Monde'."

Jane thought for a moment. She had probably heard this song many times back at the college, but she was not sure whether she would recognize it in this version. Anyway, she turned her chair to the stage, straightened her back and waited impatiently for Leonard and the two musicians to begin.

The guitars started alone, and from the very first notes Jane recalled the melody and remembered that it was a wonderful song, indeed. The sound of the two instruments singing together and completing each other was enchanting, but then Leonard bowed his head to the microphone, his eyes closed, and begun to sing. His voice was low and deep, and Jane felt as if the melody reached right inside her mind and soul.

It was overwhelming. Unlike the original version, his voice was smooth and gentle, and yet intense enough to catch everyone's attention, tease and bewitch all the people's thoughts and stir their emotions as the melody escalated to the chorus. Here the song became intense and insistent, just as his voice. The mood of the song roughened, but the French lyrics flowed incredibly smoothly out of his vocal chords. In the end, the whole performance felt like Leonard enchanted them all, embraced them with invisible arms and took them to the places unknown, deep inside his troubled mind.

Jane dared not guess how many fears and demons lived there, hints and glimpses from the hidden past that surely haunted him every day and night. All she could tell that it was amazing, overwhelming and terrifying, all at the same time. The song ended with the last, soft lamentation of the guitars, and a complete silence followed.

Then the audience burst into a true roar of applause – Jane found herself jumping up and clapping her hands, smiling and laughing and shouting with the others. Clint started to bang on the table desk, yelling for more. Jane had to giggle at that, but soon he was not alone demanding an encore. Pepper was jumping and clapping her hands crazily, squirming out of Tony's grasp each time he tried to calm her down a bit. Eric and Tek were whistling loudly, supporting each other so they would not fall into their chairs again.

Shaking her head and grinning, Jane observed her friends and felt good once again. Darcy got obviously lost somewhere in the middle of the crowd below, cheering and screaming. Eventually, Jane picked up the chant as the entire pub cried for another song.

Back on the stage, Leonard was standing with his hands on his head, observing the uproar with disbelief. Amy and her brother were waving back at the audience, smiling and shaking their heads. Eventually, the three of them got together and walked out of the lights to talk to the rest of the band.

After that, the crowd started to gradually calm down, so the musicians had some peace to talk and tune their instruments under the partial cover of the shadows. Jane realized she was thirsty and asked Pepper and the others if someone wanted water as well. And even though Eric shook his head, Jane was determined to bring him a bottle, too. Pepper went with her, still smiling and still barefooted. "That was amazing." She blurted and leaned against the bar when they reached it. "Tony told me Lenny could sing, but this…"

"Yeah." Jane sighed and placed the order. "Where's Natalie, by the way?" She asked, looking around and searching the room for the woman.

"She had an urgent phone call or something. Whatever." Pepper replied and laid her head on the desk. The bartender almost sat the bottles with the straws on her tousled, golden-and-red locks. "Oh, sorry." Not raising her head up, Pepper just turned her eyes to the poor lad, and slurred with a wicked smile.

"Sorry, um… I'll take her to the table right now, um… sorry." Jane smiled awkwardly, gathered the three cold, slippery glass bottles, held them all in one hand by the necks and then slipped the other hand under Pepper's arm to guide her back, trying not to notice the presence of all the smart phones aimed at them. Pepper purred in annoyance, but in the end submitted and let herself be led away from the bar. However, she bent down after the first two strides, leaned in and laid her head on Jane's shoulder, causing the shorter woman to stagger. The flashes from the smart phones shone. Great, Jane thought. The quickest way how to unwillingly appear on facebook and youtube.

Back at their table, Jane realized Clint and Tek were missing. She shook Pepper off her shoulder and let her fall unceremoniously back on Tony. Embarrassment completed, she thought and sat the bottles on the table desk, one in front of Tony, one in front of Eric. The third remained in her hand.

Jane sighed heavily, took out the straw and gulped a good half of the bottle at once. She then just breathed, checking the stage for any changes. Nothing particular was happening there, so she looked for Darcy and Natalie. The red-head was nowhere to be found. Apparently she had lots of important matters to discuss this evening. Darcy, on the other hand, was standing right under the stage, accompanied by Tek and Clint.

Jane walked to her seat, put one hand on the backrest and hesitated. Seeing Darcy like that… Jane felt she must do something, to walk down to the dance floor and stand under the stage… to simply be there, so that Leonard could notice her. Oh yes, she should, she definitely should do that.

Jane even made the first cautious step forward, but in the meantime, Leonard was back in the spotlight and The Monsters with him. People swarmed around the stage and in a blink of an eye, the whole dance floor was crowded. Jane's heart sank a bit lower at the sight. The moment was gone, she missed the chance to get as close as Darcy. Sighing, Jane finished her bottle and walked to the broad stairway at least. She stopped beside small wooden handrail and folding her arms before her, she leaned her side against it.

Leonard tapped at the microphone. "Hey darlings." He said with an unfathomable smile. The crowd hummed with appreciation, some people raised their hands and some of them even clapped.

"Thank you for waiting patiently," he continued. Just then Jane noticed he had undone the upper buttons of his green shirt, and could not repel the silent wish he took it away completely. But then she found herself staring at him too openly and dropped her gaze for a moment.

"Well, before we begin, I have a few questions for you." Leonard announced, took the microphone with him and stood at the edge of the stage. The audience held breath.

"Is there anyone in here who likes…" Pausing deliberately, Leonard looked around the room, his eyes glittering. "…making some noise?" he finished, raising his voice just a little. The people screamed at that. Jane smiled. It was obvious Leonard knew how to handle audiences.

"All right, all right." Leonard nodded then, turned and made a few strides along the edge. "Second question. Is there anyone who likes…" he paused again, but kept walking. Then he stopped abruptly and darted a shocked look into the crowd. "What..?" he asked someone in the audience, narrowing his eyes. The crowd hummed with chuckles.

"No, no," he chuckled, "I meant to ask… Who likes to jump?" Leonard resumed then, his voice a bit more intense again. Some people cheered at that, raising their drinks in the air, and the young women right in front of the stage actually began to jump.

"Why, that's acceptable." Leonard turned and strode back. "And now, who likes traditional music?" He stopped there to examine the people's reaction as there was a suspicious silence. "What? Nothing?" He asked, playing confused. "Well, and what about the Irish traditionals?" he smiled as the audience started to respond again.

"Okay, very well. Then I hope you won't mind one nice Irish traditional," Leonard wondered as he returned to the stand. "But to be honest, I'm especially keen on a certain cover version of this old piece." He said, raising his eyes to look upon the people. "Here's Whiskey in the Jar, hope you like it."

Right after he finished the statement, the people started to scream, followed almost immediately by the first growling sounds of the guitars. The shouts and screams melted into the melody as the music flooded the room. Gesturing with his hands, Leonard prompted the audience to jump. The people obeyed his silent command united as one and unleashed a pure madness. The liquid of countless drinks being spilled at once took to the air. Jane took a swift step back in reaction to that, smiling widely, and leaned against the wall.

As Leonard started to sing, the audience yelled the lyrics with him, and even if she was not too familiar with the text, Jane found herself singing as well. It felt just amazing. The entire world suddenly melted into a whirl of blurred lights and shade, and the only thing that existed was the song being performed, and most of all, Leonard's voice.

Like before, he was telling a story, but this was a story of a different kind. This was lighthearted, full of life and life's irony. Furthermore, during the choruses and the final verse Amy added her vocal to Leonard's, and their voices wove together in a perfect harmony to bring a brand new quality to the song. But above it all and it its true essence, the performance was as wild as it was sincere. Jane just knew that all the musicians were giving the very core of their hearts into it. And as before, Leonard had no difficulty in seizing both the attention and the heart of his audience. Jane caught herself grinning and biting her lip as she watched him take a bottle of water, gulp half of the contents and pour the rest over his face and hair. However, he slipped out of his shirt completely then, and had Jane giggle and cover her mouth. It was obvious that the people were his, and Leonard knew it and enjoyed it to the fullest. It was fascinating to explore his personality from this point of view, too. He seemed to have the time of his life, and somehow, this joyous mood of his was extremely infectious.

When the song ended, Jane just smiled and shook her head at his looks. His raven hair was tousled and stuck all over his blushed face. He was smiling, laughing and thanking everyone as the screams and cheering and clapping of hands seemed to have no end. Jane joined the applause, too, but not only because of his performance. As she watched him, she was congratulating him in her thoughts for being happy this night, and wishing silently it would last.

As the uproar started to calm down again, Leonard decided to thank the band members for the fifth time at the least and leave the stage, not caring to take his green shirt with him. And then Jane found herself watching a scene she knew she had just lost the chance to be a part of. The first person to welcome him on the dance floor under the stage was her friend. Her best friend Darcy.

Jane just watched them smile and wrap their arms around each other while the people cheered again. In the meantime, the band announced they needed to rest. Someone got to the jukebox then and the music started to play, and Jane just stared helplessly as people streamed around her, just passing by, immersed in lively chatter. Yes, it was all she did. She just watched as her best friend danced with Leonard, with the most wonderful person Jane had ever met, with the guy Jane wanted to spend all her time with. From now until…

Never.

Cold had engulfed her heart, and Jane shivered. The pure joy and happiness for Leonard was transformed into utter despair and feeling of betrayal so deep and stinging that it had tears well up in her eyes. She turned away from the scene, covered her mouth to hide the sobs and ran to the table. And not exactly knowing how, she finally managed to find her jacket under her seat, pick up her purse and march out of the place.

By that time, another emotion seized her. She felt full of rage and anger, unsure at whom she wanted to aim it. At Darcy? At Leonard? At Natalie and Pepper? At everyone?

No, Jane shook her head wildly. She knew she was already mad with someone else entirely, someone very close at hand.

She hated that weakness, that helplessness, that stupid inability to decide. She just hated herself.

---

Jane took a deep breath of the midnight air and folded her arms tightly around her. It was quite cold outside, so cold she could actually feel it, even if her mind was preoccupied with everything else apart from weather.

Her first, long glance belonged to the stars. The ever true, loyal, eternal companions. Only they were allowed to see her tears; she dared not reveal them to any other living soul. She closed her eyes then. The sobs faded away, and she used the edge of her sleeve to dry the salty traces on her cheeks and jaw, hoping against hope her mascara had survived.

Only after that she managed a sigh and a look around. A few people accompanied her before the entrance, she realized, and like her, they seemed to be taking a breath or two of the fresh air before heading back home… or back to the pub. But that was not an option for her.

A soft clicking sound drifted to her and then she smelled smoke.

Disconcerted, Jane turned to the guilty one. At first, the guy seemed not to register her presence at all, but then their eyes met for a split second. First he averted his eyes, as if just checking if she had something to say or not, but then he took the cigarette out of his mouth and viewed her again.

"Hey." Jane uttered politely, but cautiously. This man… She frowned a little, but then had to incline her head in wonderment. "Javier?"

"Hm." Frowning as well, the man gestured at her with the hand that held the cigarette. He looked like he had a word right on the tip of his tongue. And then he said it. "Jane, is it?" He guessed. "I saw you inside just a moment ago. And I thought I might know you."

"Yes." Her eyebrows went up. "Yes, I think you do, actually. It's been… some two years ago? Is it possible?"

"Seems so." The man answered with a smile. "We had quite an interesting debate with you, is that right? Right here, in this pub. Ah, wait. You mind the cigarette, yes?"

"Well, no, I…" Before she could say something like 'It's ok', he threw the freshly lit cigarette away. "You didn't have to." Jane commented.

"Nah, that's okay. Have a whole pack of them." Javier shrugged, putting his hands into his pockets. He had skin of a light shade of bronze, and dark, curly hair. He wore black jeans, blue shirt and a black jacket. His hair was shorter than Jane remembered, but otherwise he almost hadn't changed.

"Well it's… it's been a long time. But I was actually thinking about you this evening." Jane told truly.

"Oh." Javier showed a soft smile. "I guess I should count myself lucky then, having ladies such as you thinking on me."

Jane laughed with him. "Actually I just remembered that night… It used to be so different here back then."

"Yes, indeed." He sighed. "But you seem to have stayed here, right? What is it that holds a scientist of your intellect in this end of the world?"

"You know, we have the research facility out of town… down there." Jane gestured vaguely.

"Yes, I know. Still researching the second Tunguska?"

Jane giggled again. "No. Uh… it doesn't seem to be the case."

"Yeah, we all knew."

"You're forgetting Dima." Jane pointed out. "Did he write the paper?"

"Why, he published it." Javier smiled, sighing and looking up at the sky. "Haven't you read it?"

"Oh… well, I…"

"It's okay. Me neither." They laughed again.

"And may I ask what brings you here?" Jane asked, the smile still on her lips.

"Hm." Javier rubbed his chin with one hand. "I guess I'm like a criminal."

"Criminal?" Jane's eyebrows climbed up.

"Yes. I guess I'm just returning to the old crime scenes. Tracking my footprints into the past, doing some recapitulation…"

"This sounds so serious." Jane crossed her arms before her tightly, clutching at the edges of the sleeves of her black jacket. It was cold.

"Well, serious things happened to me." Javier sighed, looking up into the sky. "My girlfriend and I decided to go separate ways for some time. We went to travel and think… And when we meet again it'll be either break-up or marriage."

Jane nodded her head, thinking of suitable words. "That's what is called a dynamic relationship?" She said at last.

"Yeah." Javier snorted, reaching into his pocket for the pack of cigarettes. But then he realized he threw the last one away because of Jane's presence and let the pack slide back again.

Then they fell silent for a moment, just staring at the sky. Javier turned to her, shrinking a bit. "It's getting cold, don't you think? Let's come inside and have drink. It's on me. But nothing that would ruin me, please. I was already planning to leave as I had been robbed during a poker game. By your friend, I think. He seemed to belong to your little company."

"So it was you who played with them?" Jane's eyes widened.

"Yes, unfortunately. But I'm not ashamed to have lost against him. He was like a magician, I've never seen such a style. He seemed to be lost, but in fact he was just getting us all into his trap." He shook his head in admiration. "But I'm ready to forgive him just for that performance."

"Uh… yeah. It was good." Jane dropped her look.

"Yeah. So, are we heading back?" Javier offered, turning to the door.

Biting her lip, Jane thought. Actually, why not? She hadn't seen Javier for so long and they had so many things to talk about… And surely no one had the right to feel uncomfortable with it. No one had had expressed any objection when she left, no one of their company seemed to be missing her. Not even Eric.

Not even Leonard.

She knitted her eyebrows together. No matter how she tried, she just could not place Leonard's strange attitude. He was just… weird. Mr. Cool and Perfect-at-Everything. He's a jerk, she decided. "Actually, I… I think I'll go home. Yeah. I'm just terribly tired." Jane heard herself say in the end.

"Oh." Javier looked somewhat disappointed. Well, why wouldn't he? He surely expected some talk and fun. "I see." Looking down, he continued. "So… As for me we can go, if you wish. Do you have everything? Perhaps you should say goodbye to your friends."

"I guess I'll text them when I'm home. That's enough." Jane retorted with a new determination.

"As you wish. They're your friends." Javier shrugged. "So, is it far where you live? Or are you still living in the trailer?"

"You remember even that? You haven't even seen it!" Jane marveled.

"Sometimes my memory is selective for details." He explained, enjoying Jane's surprise. "So?"

"Well, some details do not change." She said with indifference, but then smiled. "No, I'm kidding. I bought a house in the end. I live there with Darcy. You remember her as well?"

"Ah… No. But I recognized Eric." He admitted and then gestured with his chin. "There seems to be a cab over there. Shall we take it?"

"Sure." She chirped, but as he raised his hand to earn the taxi driver's attention, Jane felt a strange hint. Perhaps she should return inside instead. She did not know this man after all. But… Hey, I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself. I always have. She decided against her better judgment stubbornly.

The cab approached in the meantime and Javier opened the door for her. He helped her in patiently, the closed the door, walked around the back of the car and got in beside her.

"Hey, how are you? It's been ages since I last took a taxi. I… can't even remember." Jane announced jovially as she made herself comfortable on the back seat.

"Well, it's said we cabbies are quite patient." The driver replied in good-humored manner. "Where are we going, gyus?"

"Sunny Road." Jane replied.

"Planck Street for me." Javier added.

"You stay in the dorm?" Jane's heart leapt. Leonard's dorm… oh, stop it, stop it, stop it.

"Yeah." Javier confirmed as he was reaching inside his jacket for his wallet. "Cheap, neat, nice… bearably inquisitive receptionist…"

"Oooh, that guy." Jane giggled knowingly. The car set off.

"You know the old Joel Barnes?" the taxi driver bubbled merrily.

"Yeah, sort of." Jane sighed, remembering the previous night.

And all those memories were back again – how good she had felt, being able to talk to Leonard with no one else meddling and disturbing. It felt so right… and kind of exciting in the end. He had brushed a hair strand off her shoulder when they were saying good-bye - he had touched her, very lightly and carefully, yes, but he had.

So why couldn't he tonight? What was the real reason? Perhaps he prefers Darcy after all. And why not – she's nice, honest and friendly and open-hearted…

And so Jane continued her inner musings, forgetting about everything else, while Javier politely continued the talk with the taxi driver. However, after a short moment something brought her down to earth. She focused on the view from the car window and realized she could not see anything. It was complete dark outside, no street lights, no houses with lit windows. But… it should not be.

"Um… where are we now? Sorry, I got captured by my thoughts." She tried.

"Outside the city." Javier announced, his voice calm and soft as ever; as if he had just said something absolutely usual and uninteresting. But the thing was, it was everything but not usual. Jane felt her heartbeat pick up speed.

"And… why exactly? My… my house is the other way." She said in a voice so thin she could simply no longer pretend she did not care.

"Yes, I know." Javier assured softly. "I promise I'll do everything I can so you could see your house once more in the future, but I fear it's time to say good-bye to your home. You shall have a new one, though. A better one."

Jane gasped. And again, and again. It was all she could do. She attempted to say something, but she just couldn't. But then, as a bolt out of the blue, an instinct reached her. She thrust her hand into her purse, but squealed with pain and helplessness as Javier caught her wrist and twisted it unmercifully.

"I'm sorry Jane. But as you would agree," he said, his tone still unbearably calm and soft, "a certain degree of violence must be applied when you are in a hurry and need to make people cooperate." He said and produced a carpet tape.

"No!" Shaking her head with disbelief and denial, she cried. "Let me… Please!" She struggled, she fought, hit and kicked and squirmed, but all in vain. In the end she found herself reduced to a moaning thing with the tape wrapped tightly around her wrists and silencing her mouth. Tears started rolling down her cheeks, but she found sobbing incredibly hard like this. With her wildly beating heart and quickened breath, she felt she might choke.

"I'm truly sorry, Jane. " Javier repeated, inspecting the contents of her purse.

Jane shook her head, and then just stared blankly outside the window. Okay, Jane, it's much easier to say it, but please, don't panic. Don't panic. Panic won't help you. You need to think. Just think... you stupid idiot.

But then the car came to a halt and Jane panicked for real. Her heart raced again as Javier got out of the car, taking her purse with him. He closed the door and apparently walked around the back of the car to open the door for her. To get her. However, it appeared he stopped on the way. She heard him talk. But to whom? Were there other people outside? Or was he calling someone? She listened carefully. No voices were answering him – he seemed to be talking to himself. So a phone call, all right. Sadly, she could not make out the words. But when the silence settled again, her heart galloped like mad. He's coming, he's coming…

The door opened and Javier leaned in, one hand resting on the top of the door, the other holding her purse. It's open, Jane noticed. And the thing she saw partly sticking out…

Before she could think twice, she darted forward with her bound hands first, grabbed the Taser from her purse and used it.

The expression in his eyes was just unforgettable. Not knowing where all the force came from, Jane pushed the mass of his body out of her way and leapt out of the car. She doubled over as she nearly fell, but she managed to keep the balance and ran. She ran past a shape, and vaguely realized it was another car. Her heart threatened to jump up her throat as she realized there might be sitting people, too. And even though this car seemed abandoned, Jane sped up and ran as she had never run before. Truth, it was considerably more difficult with her mouth shut and hands bound together and pressed against her chest, but she ran as fast as possible. And she knew just one thing - the darkness was her ally now. She must run to the city light, but remain hidden in the black shadows. Her body tensed like a stone as she expected the shooting.

However, it never came. Were there just the two of them? Was it their own action or did someone else organize it?

Finally the desert dirt subsided and she felt concrete ground under her feet. Sidewalk! It's a sidewalk; she noted and was forced to slow down as she felt like fainting. She must get rid of the tape on her mouth or else she was going to suffocate on her own saliva and wetness from her nose. It was almost impossible to breathe now, not to mention she could at least cry for help with her mouth free.

Jane looked around quickly and kept moving within the shadows. She recognized the street – it was actually quite close to the Monster's. And another thought came in then. Is truly no one missing me? What… what was the meaning of Clint's presence in the pub tonight? Where is he now? He could… no, he should save her. He had to. Or Tony, the splendid Iron Man, where was he? Just where were they all?

She cut her skin open as she tried to peel off one edge of the tape, but she did not feel the pain. Instead, she watched the street, her eyes roving wildly from one spot to another, mistaking shadows for creeping figures. Strange mist lingered in the air, flowing and whirling lazily in the street lights. Jane hated herself for breathing and puffing so loudly. It felt like she was the only source of noise in this town. No, she felt like the only living soul in the town. Where are you, people? Come on, I need you. Someone. Anyone. Please, come get me. But wait, what was that smell? Smoke?

She looked up to examine the mist in the air, and realized it indeed was smoke. Was there a fire? What happened at all? Was her kidnapping a part of something bigger? What happened to the others? Eric, Darcy, Leonard… Oh, if only you could see me now. I hope you're sa –

She was not given the chance to complete her silent wish. A hand shot up to her like an attacking snake, the cold, hard fingers twisting around and squeezing her throat like serpent's coils. She clutched at the arm that had snatched her out of the sidewalk and into the darkness of the side street, digging her nails so deep into the stranger's skin she could feel the wetness of his blood wash her fingertips. But it did her no good; Jane's eyes widened as she felt the force and the terrifying momentum that sent her crashing against the wall. The grasp around her windpipe was so strong during the impact she could not hear and see for a split second. But after her senses recovered, her head turned into a resonating bell, and black splotches blocked her view. Her knees gave up.

Her hands were removed forcefully from the wrist they were digging into, and the cruel hand that had taken the air from her loosened the grip. She slid down the wall. But before she could hit the ground, she was grabbed by the hair and yanked upwards again. The man turned her and her face hit the wall this time. Jane feared she would faint for real. She could not tell if she could truly hear the stranger's voice or if she was hallucinating. However, she could make out the words. It was the taxi driver. That hearty, joyous man… What happened to him? What made him so cruel?

"So, little girl, do you think yourself clever? And brave?" He snorted. "But why, now the adventure is over isn't it?" he growled into her ear, pressing her against the wall. "You should remember one thing from now on. At the end of the day, the nasty girls are being caught and brought where they belong. Oh yes, bad girl. We were nice to you, truly nice, and look what you've done. What do you think I should do with you now?" he insisted, and Jane could only moan and cry her pitiful, muffled sounds. She felt disgusted and frightened and tired and weak. And useless, so useless.

"What made you think you had won? What made you think you could escape? Because you knocked him down?!" He snorted with contempt. "But then you should have done the same to me, little girl. And not just me. All of us. And could you do that, I ask you?"

Oh, please, stop. Jane pleaded inside. Please let me go. Someone, please, please find me, please save me. Leonard, please… I'm here, right here. Here with this mad man.

"What do you say, clever girl?" He leaned closer still. "No, you will never run from us. Never, ever. Just remember…" his facial hair pricked her skin like tiny needles as he pressed the side of his face to hers. "Whenever you lop off one – "

However, he did not finish his statement as something forced him to hold still. He squeaked silently. Puffing heavily, Jane was trying hard to glimpse and recognize something, but her view was blocked.

"You'll regret this." An icy voice pierced the stillness. It felt familiar, but Jane could not place it.

"Let go of her." The voice commanded silently, almost softly, but the freezing cruelty in it was terrifying. The hands that were crushing her let go at once, and Jane breathed. Then the taxi driver was literally yanked away from her – it was like a huge monster had just plucked him out and up in the air. A sound of a body crashing against solid surface followed. Something crunched. Jane turned.

The man had been thrown against the opposite wall. But groaning, he was immediately struggling to get up to his feet. And the other one… Jane knew at once who he was, but she just could not believe it. That voice… It just did not belong to Leonard, it just couldn't. Nevertheless, there he was, breathing shallowly and observing the struggling taxi driver as if the man was his prey.

The cabbie finally managed to scramble up. Coughing, he half-turned, leaning against the wall for support, and glanced over his shoulder. He had the strangest expression in his face – apart from deep confusion, it reminded Jane of a grin… or a smile? But whatever it was, it did not last long. The cabbie extended his hand in Leonard's direction, and then it all happened in just a blink of an eye.

Leonard made no move at first, but when the hand was close enough, he caught it by the wrist, and twisted it behind the man's back. Then he grabbed the cabbie by the shoulder, pushing his face mercilessly against the wall, and just bent the arm up, swiftly and easily, just like opening a box of cookies. A sickening crack bounced off the walls as the elbow gave in to the brutal force and collapsed.

Jane's stomach rolled over. She felt the wall behind her again, and she slid down the surface and sank to her knees, eyeing the scene with shock and horror.

A single, muted sound bubbled out the cabbie's vocal chords before Leonard brought his hand to the man's throat again and squeezed.

"Shut your mouth." Leonard whispered and yanked the man forth, and then drove his head hard against the solid surface. And again, and again. Then he turned the man around and just continued strangling him. The cabbie's legs surrendered.

In that moment, Jane awakened. She brought her hands to her face and peeled the tape of at once, no matter the stinging, burning pain. "Leonard!" she called out. Or she thought she did. Instead, a mere rasp came out. She tried to clear her throat and kneaded it with her hands. "Leonard! Leonard stop!" she cried in a very hoarse voice this time. It hurt, it hurt so much, but she had to.

"You're killing him!" Jane cried on her knees. "Stop it! Stop it, please! Leonard, please!"

---

ooOOOoo

Flicking through the images on his tablet rather quickly and methodically, Dima hurried up the final flight of steps. How many times exactly did he ascend this stairway? Many times. Although not nearly as many as I'd wish for. And so he went surefooted, moving effortlessly and swiftly, his feet taking him loyally up, even though he was not looking where he was supposed to place them.

Still, there obviously was something that could destroy his swiftness and balance at any time. It always came unbidden, jumping out of unexpected hiding places. He scowled at the image of the red-haired woman.

Such a coldness.

True, some would surely call her beautiful and attractive. But not him. For him, this woman represented dark. And cold. Freezing cold that bites to the bone and never lets go.

The Black Widow. He snorted internally. Where comes all the indifference in your face from? He wondered. Just where?

And how could she still retain the indifference when looking at a dying human? His father was a great man, and countless great things vanished from this world with him. Hundreds of noble deeds had never been set to motion. Was it not enough to stir people's hearts just a bit? No, apparently it wasn't. It had not moved a single muscle in the face of that woman. A wonderful person had lain dying before her, but she had just watched with her detached eyes, waiting patiently to make sure her task was completed. Her face showed nothing apart from indifference.

You're just a beast hidden behind a cute façade. He thought finally, resumed his ascend, and moved to another image.

Jane.

This one was a great deal more bearable to look upon. He actually missed this little, gentle woman, and could not wait to see her again.

Though she won't be as pleased to see me. At least not here.

Of course not. But bit by bit, day by day, her attitude would change as she would start to understand. He had once experienced this himself. Truth, he used to have nothing – no family, and no one he could trust. Still, Dima had hated being taken from his home, from the student's life. But soon he started to realize that what he had lost was outweighed a thousand times by what he had found. And you will, too, he noted to himself as he examined the photo in detail, studying Jane's gloomy face and brooding gaze.

The steps were all behind him now, and just a one corridor remained. He was almost there, but the next image caught his attention again, causing his pace to slow down.

It's him.

Dima still could not believe this was real. But it was, and now he could see it again as clear as daylight. He's the one. He's a true prince. And you all should kneel, he thought, frowning at the presence of Clint Burton and Anthony Stark in the picture. Couldn't they just see? The person they were standing around, posing for the photo, was so different, so unusual – his pale, porcelain skin, the long raven hair, those eyes, green as the green color could ever be… He was perfect. He was strange. He was beautiful.

Dima felt somewhat ashamed for these thoughts. But he could not help himself. Those eyes… Did they look like that for real? Or was it just the quality of the photograph? Dima guessed he should see for himself very soon.

But now, having walked through the white corridor, he produced his ID, entered the code, and as soon as the doors opened before him, Dima entered, welcomed and swallowed by shadows as the doors came together again behind his back.

Once inside he blinked a few times, adjusting his sight to the dimness. His heartbeat got a little bit faster, he noted.

Calm down, it's not the Viper today. She's away. This is the Captain. Quickly, Dima soothed his thoughts. In addition, we're aboard. That's a reason enough to bring him into a good mood.

Once on the ground, the Captain was not the easiest person to interact with. It appeared that the earth beneath his feet was driving him nervous and tense. And it very well might be just so. The Captain was a man of knowledge. It was one of the features he relied on the most. And for some reason, he felt he could know much more once aboard their flying stronghold. As he had said himself once, he felt like being nowhere and everywhere at the same time when airborne. Nowhere to be found by his enemies, and everywhere he needed to be as quickly as possible.

Yes, it is the Captain today, not her, and we're sailing the clouds with the stars above guiding us. There's nothing to fear, Dima breathed and stepped closer.

The Captain was standing with his back towards him. He was tall and strong, past fifty, but his body was full of life, his mind bursting out with intellect and sharp wits, his heart fuelled by ambition. His precisely trimmed silvery grey hair reflected the tiny, dimmed lights overhead. His arms were moving swiftly, deftly and soundlessly as he was going through the newest technical data obtained on the Dome Project. A holographic screen before him was alive with several three-dimensional models of an object that resembled a dome with a great thorn on the summit. The pictures were shifting and rotating at Captain's gestures, revealing their secrets from every point of view or falling apart in thin cuts if he wanted them to.

It was fascinating to watch, but Dima had a task to finish. He stepped closer still, biting his lip promptly as a dozen of most popular bawdy nicknames for the Dome Project sprang up in his mind.

"Why, I presume you're bringing no happy tidings, Lieutenant." The Captain spoke so suddenly that Dima could feel his heart leaping.

"By – by your leave, what made you think so, Captain?" Dima gave a quizzical reply.

"You've been standing here for some time now. And I still cannot hear you speaking." Captain's quiet voice filled the room effortlessly. At the end of his statement, he peeked slowly behind his shoulder. "Come closer my friend. Please, don't mind me working."

"As you say, Captain. And…" Dima hesitated, struggling with words. "I fear that the tidings in sum cannot be marked as saddening, but… they are not precisely what we wished for, either."

"Ah. Why so?"

"I received a report about Dr. Foster being captured."

The Captain let out a short, but lively laugh. "So Ms. Romanoff fell for our little trick?"

"Yes, it would seem." Dima afforded himself a smile, too. "Clint Barton as well."

"They were dangerous once. But working together, they are witless and slow." The elder man noted, his lips moving only minutely as he still seemed to be more consumed by his work.

"It might be. But a complication seems to have arisen."

"Yes?"

"According to all reports and gathered data, Javier and No. 8 were successful in seizing Dr. Foster, but not in getting out of the town afterwards."

"Are they still there?"

"Yes, Captain. We receive their readings from Puente Antiguo as we speak."

"The backup escort?"

"On site already, securing the place."

"Good." The Captain acknowledged and remained thoughtful for another heartbeat, then resumed his work. "Anything else of importance?" he asked, eyes fixated on the screen before him.

"I dare think so, Captain. At precisely the same time Dr. Foster was taken captive, we received another report. From Stark's California Experimental Power Plant."

Captain stopped all his movements and turned to look Dima in the eye.

"The Tesseract. It has… stirred." Dima revealed, citing the report exactly, the shortest report he had ever received.

"Stirred? How much?"

"Enough to drive the entire compound and the nearest surroundings to a complete blackout, it would seem. That much we could get from the satellite." Dima went on, plugging in a flash disc. A new window appeared almost immediately on the holographic screen, overlaying the Dome Project. Captain touched it, extracting the pictures. He flipped through them with a surprising haste. It pinched Dima close to his heart as he recalled all his work that had preceded this quick, silent slide show.

The greyish satellite records were soon replaced by the colorful photographs. Jane's face shone once again on him.

"It would be most unfortunate if we fail to bring Dr. Foster…" the Captain said, and then continued thinking. "Has Javier made contact with the Prince?"

"Yes, Captain. In fact, he had lost a fortune against him in a game of poker." Dima explained, trying to suppress the grin.

"An expense we can afford." Captain waved it off, studying the image of Barton and Stark leaning close to the Prince. A weak smile twirled his lips. He sighed, crossing his arms. "His strength has been silenced when he came to our world. But have no fear, Lieutenant. It remains within him, hidden and ready to burst. And it will. We and our sweet, diligent cousins of SHIELD have been guiding him with attention and care, watching and waiting. But it seems to me we've been feeding this dragon long enough. Now the time has come for him to spit some fire."

"The question is on whom." Dima speculated quickly, forgetting to think twice about his statement. He realized his excessive boldness in the moment the grey-green eyes of the Captain rested upon his, an unspoken question lingering between the two of them.

It might have lasted just a split second, but for the young lieutenant it felt like an hour of suspense and anxiety. He finally composed himself just enough to look away and open his mouth to form an apology. But he was cut off even before he managed to make a sound.

"I cannot help myself, Lieutenant." Captain's deep, melodic voice put an end to the silence. "Each time I look at you I feel like a game of chess."

"Captain?" Dima squeaked.

Idiot. Stop behaving like a stupid little child. He clenched his fist for a short moment. How much time and hard work, how many sleepless nights it had taken him to earn this position? He was there, yes, he made it eventually, but he was still a green novice. He must not let his attention be distracted. He must tread carefully. Agility, tenacity and precision – that were the words he repeated to himself each morning. He had been pursuing his dream tirelessly; but now as he had achieved it, he realized he must not rest. No, he must work even harder. He had always known he must not submit to any weakness, that he needed to be constantly focused and aware.

But in fact, Dima could not help it. Each time he was in the presence of the Captain, he had to think on his father. It was the sort of weakness that was nearly impossible to oppose, as it was impossible to repel the notion, even if their physical appearance differed. Except the body height, lean figure and short grey hair, they did not look similar. His father's eyes were dark, not green. But that unfathomable something in them… It was just the same. It felt so familiar. Same as the ambition, the resolve, the intellect, the ability, and the predestination to change the course of things. It all brought old memories and feelings Dima had not yet the complete control over. The sentiment certainly belonged to a human's nature, but it had no place here. He must learn how to push it away. His father was long gone, after all, and Dima was sure he wouldn't have wished to see his son losing the ground under his feet just because he couldn't control his emotions. Yes, that was it, his father was gone, but the Captain was here. And he did not need sentiment. He required loyalty.

"Uh… I still haven't found any relatives that would bind me to that Mr. Kasparov, I'm afraid." Dima uttered finally. "I fear we have just the name in common, Captain."

The older man smiled. "Well, the question is, does it actually make a difference? And could it make a true difference in the game?" Folding his arms before him, the Captain nodded his head knowingly. "The name is not important when playing chess. I'm sure it wouldn't bring you any luck, Lieutenant. It is a mere interesting coincidence that would make some people twist up the corners of their mouths, perhaps. But that is all. The name would not win the game for you. It is only a word that is easily forgotten."

"On a life's battlefield it does not matter if you choose to call yourself a Shield or a Spear. The words lose their purpose quickly, Lieutenant. If you seek a true, durable advantage, you must look for solid things. Things and deeds that cannot be questioned. Not to mention that… You must be always a step ahead." The Captain concluded and remained silent for a long moment after that.

Does he want me to react? What does he want me to say? What is he actually speaking about? Dima panicked internally, but did a good job in hiding it. The faint light sparkled in the grey-green eyes then.

"Come with me, Lieutenant." The elder man said.

"Captain." Dima nodded and followed in his senior's footsteps. The screens vanished into the air and the room sank into complete darkness behind their backs.

They went through several dimly lit rooms and dark corridors Dima had never walked through before. Doors opened before them and closed again, lights went on and out and the colors on the walls changed from pure white to green and back to white as they proceeded. Finally, they appeared where Dima had never thought he would appear.

"These are – " stopping in the doorway, he stared at the space before him with disbelief and awe. Clearly, this was a private area. An apartment. The Captain walked in, but Dima stayed in the doorway. He gazed around the space as one half of the numerous tiny lights in the ceiling came alive and illuminated the white surfaces below softly. It was a spacious living room with two windows in one of the walls. The lights in that section of the room remained turned off, so Dima could see the faint twinkle of the stars outside.

"My private chambers." The Captain finished for him. "Please be so kind as to excuse the simplicity. I am not used to welcome many guests in here. But do come in, Mr. Kasparov."

"I… I am honored… Captain." Dima managed, and stepped forward.

"From all kinds of liquids in the world I keep just still water here… Would you like a glass?" the Captain asked as he walked over to the far corner where a white sofa and table stood.

"Yes. Yes, thank you, Captain." Dima answered, taking slow and careful steps on the soft black carpet, his head turning and eyes roving in order to absorb as much as possible. Attached to the wall opposite to the windows, there loomed two tall bookshelves. Two of the tiny lights were aimed at a large painting in between them – it showed ships with proud white sails in a lively harbor, a play of light and shade. It was a masterpiece, radiating life and warmth of the sunrise, but Dima rather chose to stand before one of the windows and admire the view of the scenery outside.

The stars were bright tonight, illuminating the black sky like billions of fireflies, distant and unreachable. When he looked down, however, he could see some of their modest, simpler sisters, the lights of the Flying Island that was carrying them above the clouds. There were many of them, but compared to the number of the lights above, they were nothing.

The Captain poured two glasses of pure water in the meantime. "Ice?" he asked then, straightening.

"No, thank you." Shifting his body weight from one foot to the other, Dima uttered as he spotted another work of art in between the windows. At first, he had thought it was just a sort of ornament to liven the white monotony of the wall, but now he could see that it had much deeper meaning. It was the organization's sign, the symbol of his new, large family. He beheld it humbly, with admiration in his eyes, as if watching an item dear to his heart.

It was a mosaic of clear crystal panes of differing shapes, gleaming and flawless, arranged in a likeness of a nine-headed dragon, its long body and slender necks twisting around a spear. Dima let out a silent breath. He had never seen the symbol pictured in such a beautiful way. Now he was even gladder that it had changed – the new order needed a new symbol, one that would represent the new thinking that was focused on the future, but not forgetting about the roots it the past. The Captain had always preferred and promoted the new sign over the old ones, unlike the Viper, who was known to look for and keep clothes with the old, horrific symbol with the skull. But it is an offense. It is painfully unseemly of her. All the more reason why she should give up her position.

"I was wondering which work of art would win your attention." The Captain spoke calmly, waking him of sorts, and took one glass in his hand. "And I am pleased to see my guess was right." He admitted and sipped at his water deliberately, almost thoughtfully, as he watched the young Lieutenant approach him.

Dima smiled lightly as he reached the table. He took his glass and looked into it. "I was taken by surprise, I must admit. I wasn't expecting – "

"Expectations." The Captain cut him off all of a sudden, his voice rising a bit. "Wishes and presumptions. Just wouldn't the world be a much nicer place to live without those three?" He sighed, fixating his gaze on the painting of the ships. He remained unmoving, but after a long moment he finally sounded again. "You wondered if the Prince would choose to side with us." He began simply.

"I fear I might have, Captain."

"No might have's, my lad. I know what you said."

"Yes, Captain." Dima bowed his head in submission.

"Now, when we have agreed on what you have been thinking about, let me explain." The superordinate said and then walked over to the left bookshelf. There he laid a forefinger on the top of one of the books – a relatively tiny, green one – and pulled at it, inclining it towards him.

The painting of the ships in a lively harbor suddenly shook and shifted to the side, revealing a niche in the wall behind it.

"His memories are all that's needed." The elder man suggested calmly, as if everything was in perfect order. "And as it happens, we have a part of them in store." He announced with an undeniable touch of triumphant tone as they both gazed upon an item placed securely behind a glass pane that covered the newly exposed hiding place.

At first, Dima only knew the thing was beautiful. Not asking for permission, he made a few steps closer, to view it in detail. He gasped as he realized what he was staring at.

It was a helm, golden and shining. The reflected light danced on its surface as Dima moved even closer. At the forehead, two horns rose up and curled back at the sharp ends. They were clean and bright, the perfection of their surface undisturbed by any scratch, like the rest of the helm. It shone there, motionless, timeless, perfect and proud, speaking of glorious victories and ancient adventures and mysteries.

"This is… "

Yes, yes it was – there couldn't be any doubt now. At least not for Dima. It was Loki's helm. Their Prince's helm.

He used to wear golden armor… Dima could not stop his thoughts now. He just had to imagine him, the Prince, this beautiful person, all in gold, shining and splendid amongst the mightiest of Asgard. Was there any cloak, too? A cape flowing down his wide, noble shoulders? Which color could it have been? Oh, you fool. What else could it be?

"Gold and green." Dima mouthed in awe.

Folding his arms tightly in front of him, the Captain displayed a light smile. "Beautiful, isn't it? In its strange, surreal way. Like a pearl plucked from the bed of the deepest ocean. Like a fallen star we have climbed the highest mountain for." He sighed shortly, weighing his next words. "I fear we still cannot count on it, but once he awakens, we shall be ready. He might find a fondness towards us in him if we have the proper gifts to offer in return."

"Captain, you – "

"Of course it would be foolish of me to think that just his helm, no matter how beautiful, will help win him to our purpose. If the legends are only partly true, he's just as unpredictable as the course of the wind. Who knows what truly was behind this quarrel that had caused him landing on Earth along with the destroyed Bifrost chamber." The captain continued. "Aye, we have a gift for him, but only a gift to begin with. The next two items, however, might very well ensure his interest in us," he stated and let a little smile play on his lips once more.

"We do not possess them yet, but that will change very soon. As I was told only a few moments ago by a certain dutiful Lieutenant," he announced, giving Dima a quick, meaningful look, "one of them is on the way, albeit unwillingly – how unfortunate. However, it seems to me…" he paused, his gaze wandering off to the windows and beyond, maybe to catch a glimpse of the sparkling blue light of unlimited power, "… that the other is trembling to be taken."

Nicely said, Dima should have pointed out. But instead, he remained still, letting Captain's words drift to him from behind a curtain of thoughts. The Captain fell silent as well, and marched quietly to the window. They both shared this humble, knowing silence together, one gazing at the stars, the other at another world's artifact.

Still watching the helm closely, Dima had to admit that like in the eyes of its owner, there was this unearthly, alien essence to it. The strangely beautiful way it shimmered and twinkled back at him…

Perhaps it was just a trick of the light.

And maybe it also could not wait to be taken and donned again.

---

ooOOOoo

And I choose to survive
Whatever it takes
You won't pull ahead
I'll keep up the pace
And I'll reveal my strength
To the whole human race

Yes I am prepared
To stay alive
I won't forgive, the vengeance is mine
And I won't give in
Because I choose to thrive

(Muse – Survival)