Chapter 4! Woohoo! I hope you are enjoying the story so far! Shoutout to LittleeOne for the first review!
If the mysterious security agents had been friendlier, Jane would have been much more enthused about her inaugural helicopter ride. She had always dreamed of soaring high above the surface of the Earth like a billionaire, and here was her chance! Jane's only issue was that she was currently pressed between two fat, suited security guards, and she could barely see out the window. Darcy didn't appear to have any problem with the situation; in fact, she was pressing her face to the window and eagerly pointing out every passing landmark. Darcy's intern what's-his-name also appeared to be calm, although he looked a little green.
Either way, neither Jane's intern nor her intern's intern were bothered by the fact that just over an hour ago, the strange agents had interrupted her important atmospheric pressure experiment in Boston, and herded them all into a slinky little helicopter. Sure, the helicopter was very luxurious, and the agents had ensured her that all her possessions would be taken to their destination, but still the circumstances were very unnerving.
The whole incident reeked of S.H.I.E.L.D., but to Jane's best knowledge, the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division had been disbanded not too long ago, so the mystery of the ruthless captors continued.
"Jane! Look here!" Darcy hissed excitedly. She held up a life preserver from under her seat and gestured to a tiny logo embroidered on the chest.
"Stark Industries." Jane whispered, although the fat security gargoyles who squished her in place could certainly hear her anyways.
Darcy raised her eyebrows. "Could it be-?"
Jane shook her head disbelievingly. "Why would a billionaire...a genius like Tony Stark want to see us?" Secretly, her heart quivered with the knowledge that Stark was one of the Avengers...along with Thor.
"Maybe we're finally going to meet Earth's Mightiest Heroes?" Darcy pondered.
Jane tried not to excite herself over such an absurd suggestion, but the notion was too good to be true. Maybe I can finally see Thor again...I haven't heard from him since he went off to search for infinity-somethings...
After that, Darcy went off on a tangent, wildly recounting each of the Avengers and their special abilities. Jane only half-listened, her mind drifted in and out of daydreams which mostly concerned Thor. When the pilot finally announced the beginning of their descent, it was Darcy's intern's cry of pain after hitting his head on the helicopter roof which brought Jane back to reality.
For the final couple kilometres of descent, the fatso guards pulled down the blinds on the windows without an explanation, and even Jane felt her stomach churn in protest at the unyielding disorientation. When the copter's runners finally touched firm ground, her eagerness to exit the tiny cabin overshadowed all else. Surprisingly, she, Darcy, and Intern were allowed to exit without any complaint from the agents.
When Jane's eyes had adjusted to the vivid light of late afternoon, her jaw dropped open at the sight of the place in front of her. A ginormous building in the shape of the Avengers "A" with a strange growth-like wing extending from one end sprawled below their landing spot.
"This must be Avengers Headquarters!" Intern reeled happily! "Darcy was correct about our destination!"
Darcy looked inexhaustibly pleased at that, and patted her intern on the back.
Immediately another agent appeared on the hillside, this one female. She was properly dressed with a tight bun and an I.D. card faced with the Avengers logo, although her blouse bore the Stark Industries sigil.
"On behalf of Mr. Stark and the Avengers team, welcome to the Avengers Compound." She stated brightly. "If you would kindly follow me."
Jane exchanged a look with Darcy, and followed their guide down to the compound.
The walk to their destination was not a lengthy one, but long enough for the secretary woman to catch Jane up on the majority of the situation. Her eyes surely widened as the woman explained that she was, in fact, invited to reside alongside the Avengers at the request of Thor, in specially designed living quarters. The woman apologized for the brute force of the removal from Boston, but insisted that it was only to maintain a standard of security. She even revealed that Darcy and Intern were not originally intended to have been involved in the top secret matter, but since they were present upon the helicopter's arrival, their presence was necessary to maintain secrecy.
"Do we get to stay?" Darcy interrupted quizzically as she gestured to herself and her intern. "Because if not I will be seeking compensation for harsh treatment and violation of basic rights. There were no refreshments on that helicopter."
Jane rolled her eyes, but internally hoped her annoying buddy could stay.
"That shall be up to the Avengers, Ms. Lewis." The secretary quipped.
Nothing more was said until the group reached a large metal door, which slid open once the guide pressed her thumb to a fingerprint scanner. The woman stepped aside, but gestured for Jane, Darcy, and Intern to enter.
Jane stepped through the opening and entered a long hallway with eight doors. In the larger area beyond the skinny entrance, the sounds of cooking were audible. An appealing but slightly scorched scent wafted up Jane's nose.
"Please sir, you are burning your dinner." A robotic but pleasant female voice stated, coming from the kitchen.
"I know what I'm doing, F.R.I.D.A.Y." A male voice answered, edged with irritation.
"Clearly you do not, sir." The robotic one answered.
Jane cautiously made her way down the hallway, unsure what to do next. As she rounded the corner, she witnessed the stovetop explode with flames. None other than Tony Stark himself was there, hastily extinguishing the inferno with a sleek Stark Industries device.
"Jane Foster has arrived, sir."
Jane watched as Tony Stark, and Steve Rodgers-who was seated at the island- turned in sync to regard her.
"Welcome to- oh...hello there, Miss Foster." Tony Stark piped. Making his way over to Jane's side, he took her hand as though to...kiss it?
But he was interrupted by a familiar voice. "Leave her be, Stark. She has had a long journey." Thor said with a smile, as he appeared in a doorway across the room.
Jane flushed as Tony backed away. The billionaire rolled his eyes and went back to dealing with his kitchen disaster.
Jane half-jogged over to Thor, where she buried herself in his arms. She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, taking in his exotic scent-
"Is there a bathroom somewhere that I could use?" Darcy called out loudly from across the room.
Thor broke away with a quizzical look. "You brought that friend of yours and her companion?"
"Long story." Jane replied breathlessly.
"Well I shall look forward to hearing it all." Thor said with another charming smile. "I have missed you greatly, Jane. There is no excuse for the breaking of my vow never to leave your side."
"I believe functions of saving the universe overwrite some promises. There's nothing to forgive." She whispered.
Meanwhile, Tony Stark and Steve Rodgers had reappeared beside them. "If you two are done cavorting for the moment," Stark muttered sassily, "then I can formally welcome Miss Foster to Avengers Headquarters. "
"Please, call me Jane, Mr. Stark."
"And call me Tony." The billionaire winked.
Jane blushed. "Sorry about Darcy and her intern, by the way."
Steve Rodgers interjected. "Not a problem at all. Tony knew they were coming and has prepared a guest room for them. He just showed them to their room."
"I apologize, Jane. This is Steve Rodgers. Steve, this is Jane." Thor added quickly.
"How do you do." Steve remarked with a bow.
Jane was too shocked for words. "I-I can't believe I'm meeting you all!" she stammered.
"It's been a long time coming. I'm sure Pepper will be excited for some more estrogen around here." Tony said happily.
"Speaking of Pepper, we need to consume all the burnt pierogies before she arrives or I might die of shame." Tony added. "I've always denied I can't cook."
"You should tell her the truth, sir." F.R.I.D.A.Y. suggested.
"Shut up, F.R.I.D.A.Y."