And now, another chapter! I've tried to change the story's cover image to a map I designed of the new wing, but I'm experiencing troubles, (sometimes, technology hates me...) so if anyone knows a way to post a picture so that others can view it on here, let me know! On the topic of the story, I hope you are enjoying it so far- I promise it won't be all developmental stuff forever. I have big plans for the plot! So keep checking up, and please review if you're feeling kind :)
Steve Rodgers happily followed Tony Stark through the gigantic space-door that led into the new wing of Avengers HQ. He listened as Stark explained to Thor his plan of keeping the team together –literally, living in the same space. Steve was unsure why Tony intended to have the team live together in his full-scale Avengers 'habitat', but he held no personal objection to the situation, since even living with a bunch of crazy super-humans was better than living alone. Steve spent many a sleepless night wishing for companionship, and was always taken aback by the loneliness of waking up in a bed occupied only by himself. Plus, the billionaire's extravagant style would ensure maximum comfort and luxury- a definite improvement over the tiny quarters he occupied over in the original section of headquarters.
Steve was stolen out of his reverie by Tony beginning the actual tour. A relatively long hallway lay ahead, which opened up into a large common area. Eight doors studded the hallway's sides, four on each side. Tony gestured initially to the door on the right.
"Here lies the infirmary, obviously a place for the sick, the injured, and the decrepid. Mostly a precaution, with due luck none of us will need to be in there."
Steve poked his head inside and observed an airy room crammed with all manner of medical technology. Several of Tony's signature arm-bots were decked out in strange nurse-like outfits and appeared to be attempting to clean every surface in sight.
Tony looked on proudly. "Everything is state-of-the-art." He crooned, wandering over to tap a large metal cylinder labelled MRI System. There's more advanced tech here in one room than in all other North American hospitals combined."
Steve observed the predominantly metal machines and wondered what had happened to beds and live nurses. Soon Tony urged Steve and Thor along once more and they paused to glance through the doorway across the hallway, which seemed to be occupied by nothing more than an extremely cluttered storage room. Tony tried to pass the room by, insisting that the abundant clutter was not of interest, but Thor wandered inside before either man could stop him.
The god of thunder disappeared into the darkness and piles of junk and reappeared a heartbeat later with a strange spider-like device in his clutches. Tony tolled his eyes at the sight of it. "Get that stupid godforsaken object out of my sight." He groaned, throwing his arms up and stepping backward. "You might want to put it back and shut the door tightly."
"What is it?" Steve quipped calmly, moving in for a closer look.
Tony emitted a dramatic sigh. "That...is one of my earlier artificial intelligence prototypes. It was supposed to fetch objects, clean, and give nice head massages, but instead it evolved into a sort of self-appointed boom box obsessed with giving back rubs."
Thor smiled. "It's cute. What do you call it?"
"It was called Otis...but now it's called Tony's Biggest Failure and I suggest you put it back before I grab it and smash it." Tony shouted, his tone rising steadily.
"Easy, Stark. Thor's just curious. We all know how your last jaunt with artificial intelligence ended up-this one is best left alone." Steve muttered, taking the little spider-bot from Thor and returning it to the storage room. The tour continued slightly quicker after that. Thor insisted repeatedly that if he wasn't allowed to keep Otis, he wanted a lion or an Asgardian monkey to keep as a pet. Eventually, Tony compromised, saying that he would look into getting a cat.
Tony showed Thor and Steve a training room, which was situated beside the storage area. A great selection of weights, mats for combat practice, and top-of-the-line exercise equipment filled the space, and Steve immediately looked forward to exploring all its features. Across the hall lay another room-a greenhouse. Tony refused to explain why he felt the need to keep a room full of plants, but he insisted that it was important, and that everyone would thank him later.
Four more doors filled the remainder of the hallway, but Steve saw the interior of none of them. Tony said that they were guest rooms-simple but luxurious. Apparently their size and quality was nothing compared to the suites he had designed for the Avengers team.
At that point in the tour, a question which had plagued Steve's mind made its way forth. He strode up beside Tony. "Where is the rest of the team, Tony?"
"Romanoff is elsewhere, busy meeting with Nick Fury, but she will be joining us tonight. Clint is off dealing with his wife and their new baby, and he's promised to get here eventually, but no guarantees when. Bruce...well, we haven't exactly found him yet, but I assure you I have every working piece of tech across the globe searching." Tony finished, exasperated.
"What about the new recruits?" Thor asked curiously.
Steve smiled and took the reins. "Vision has been put to work across headquarters premises learning mundane tasks to better his neuron connections. In other words, we've got him stacking wood, raking leaves, and gardening."
"You should get him to tend to the horses. No one else seems to want to haul manure." Tony complained.
Thor appeared to perk up. "You have horses? I have been searching for a suitable Midgard mount since my initial arrival on its surface."
"All in good time, buddy. Later in the tour. You were saying, Cap?" Tony said pleasantly.
"War Machine and Falcon were called out a couple days ago for FBI matters, but their training was going quite well before their departure. Wanda is still in training involving mind control, but should be done in the next week or so."
Thor nodded as he processed the information.
"We should continue. Jane is arriving in less than an hour." Tony added, glancing at his wrist watch once again. The billionaire walked more purposefully down into the area at the end of the hallway, where the space opened up into a grand gathering room.
As soon as Stark entered the larger room, he was swarmed by arm-robots. They chattered at him and attempted to offer him things. Tony calmly pressed a red button on his watch, and the robots all turned away and backed themselves into a barren corner, where they synchronously powered down.
"You are a popular man, Tony Stark." Thor laughed.
"Thank you, your godliness."
Steve took a moment to examine his new surroundings. To his left, a large kitchen area filled the space. The granite countertops shone immaculately, and the warm brown hues of the cabinets and decor were surely the work of Pepper Potts. The biggest fridge Steve had seen since his unfreezing filled a large chunk of the cabinetry, and a similarly large oven with an eight burner stove was wedged into the area. An island overlooked the rest of the large common area, and between the island and the spot where Steve was standing stood a titanic fourteen seat dining table.
To the right of Steve, Tony, and Thor, a small lab area with various machines surrounded an elegant spiral staircase, which disappeared both up into the ceiling and down into the floor. The masterfully crafted spiral stairs led to an upper and lower level.
Straight ahead of Steve's vantage point, a circular area dropped off into a sort of media pit. A humungous television set was surrounded by all manner of couches and recliners. Beyond the flat screen and seating, five unique doors adorned the pentagonal walls.
"Five doors for six Avengers." Tony stated. "Since I assumed Natasha would share with Banner; although since Banner is nowhere to be seen, she'll have it to herself for now."
"It's fantastic, Tony- did you really build it all yourself?" Steve wondered in awe of the perfectly designed space."
"I had help from my useless arm-bots." Tony muttered. "Now wait here while I go investigate my pierogi order. I'll get F.R.I.D.A.Y. to start cooking our dinner so you can investigate the glorious dwellings I have designed for you behind those doors." He called out as he walked into the vast kitchen.
"I think we shall be happy here." Thor mused. He wandered over to a set of hooks in the lab and hung up Mjolnir.
Steve silently agreed, excited to spend time with his Avengers teammates outside of a battleground. But what of Natasha? He thought. After what happened a few days ago...never mind. It's not my place to wonder.
Steve ambled over to the kitchen, eager to discover exactly what a pierogi was.