It's been three days since Lauren was offered a room at the Avengers' Tower. And despite Steve being adamant that the rest of the team knew of her presence in the Tower, and that she had Tony's blessing. (Tony did own the building after all.) She was still feeling unsure of her continued stay. She still wanted to hear the rest of the team's approval personally. In the meantime, she found herself strapped into the role of the team cook.
On her first morning in the Tower, Steve realized that he would not be having his favorite post-run snacks. Lauren made sure to point out that the café would still offer the same items, despite her absence. Steve argued that it wouldn't be the same if it wasn't made by his favorite baker. To say that she hadn't turned into a tomato after would be a lie. She'd probably stick to the lie it until she was old and senile. She was touched and flattered though. So just before they went their separate ways, she offhandedly declared that her roommates would always have something to eat in the morning, as long as she lived there that is. She made sure to make a quick exit to prevent any protests.
She later got them to bring down the ingredients she would need to their personal kitchen from the communal one. When asked why she explained that she was uncomfortable with using the communal kitchen despite only cooking for the three of them. It was something ingrained to her as she grew up. To make sure to always make enough food for everyone who had access to where ever she was cooking. Her roommates then had her make a market list with Friday, so the A.I. could stock their personal kitchen with whatever she needed.
Besides providing her roommates breakfast, she continued to cook dinner for the whole team. On her 2nd night, When she was about to start dinner, she was pleasantly surprised to find that there were no leftovers. She figured everyone ate dinner at odd hours, or whatever was leftover was eaten for lunch. So, she decided to keep on cooking dinner. She hoped that the long hours she spent in the communal kitchen would present an opportunity to meet the others.
So far she hadn't seen any new faces. Clint had, quite literally, dropped in for dinner on her second night. He also appeared for the snacks she whipped up while preparing. His timing was impeccable and made her curious. She thought she heard James mumble something about air vents when she asked about it, but she wasn't sure.
Overall she was settling in well in the Tower.
On her 3rd day at the Tower, she decided to take up James's offer to use the gym. She needed some exercise. Steve invited her to join his runs with Sam but she declined. She knew she wouldn't be able to keep up with them, it'd be a death sentence for her to try.
After preparing breakfast for her roommates and a large cup of strong coffee. She asked Friday to guide her to the gym.
Lauren was pleasantly surprised to find the proper equipment she needed. All the good stuff too. She was starting to get used to the fact that she will always find the best of everything while she was in the Tower. She was already loathing the day she would have to leave.
"I wonder if I could get any music playing in here." She voiced out absently.
"Good morning Miss Grimms, what music would you like to play?" Friday's voice sounded out, startling her out of her musing. She was still unused to the idea of a semi-sentient system always being available to help.
"Fuck, I forgot you were a thing. Hi, sorry. Uh, any classic rock maybe?" She managed to answer after almost literally jumping out of her own skin. She was quite glad that there were no witnesses to her embarrassing reaction.
And just like that Ram Jam's Black Betty started to play. Lauren grinned, whoever managed the music library had good taste.
Fully motivated and pumped-up on coffee, she went about starting her routine. She eyed the available weights and tested the weight of the barbells, trying to get a feel of how much she wanted to start off with. She decided to start on an empty barbell and work her way up.
About halfway through her workout, she didn't notice that someone had entered the gym. Said person decided to keep quiet and watch.
Lauren set herself under the bar, unaware of being observed. She squatted the weight 5 times, then decided to do another 3. The last squat was obviously harder than the rest but she managed. She set the bar back onto the rack with a loud huff.
"You must be Lauren." A voice called when Lauren's breaths calmed.
"What the…!" Lauren exclaimed, her body turning like a whip in surprise. "What the fuck is it with you guys and jumping me like that? Is there some sort of game I'm not aware of?" She complained not really registering the unfamiliarity of the voice. She expected it to be one of the people she had met.
If she wasn't so surprised, she may have noticed that the voice was unfamiliar to her. Not to mention that it was from an entirely different gender from the people she knew in the Tower.
Her comment earned her a pointed look. Only then did she notice the very female features of her assailant.
"Oh…" Lauren sputtered, at a loss for words. Still trying to register who she just snapped at. The woman's green eyes were intimidating.
Lauren thought she knew exactly how intimidating women could be. She grew up around a few after all. She liked to think that she could be an intimidating presence herself. But the woman in front of her was a different kind of intimidating. Her presence was almost lethal, in a way, as if she was…
"Oh!" the sound took on a tone of recognition, making the other female smile.
"Natasha Romanoff." The woman finally introduced herself. She held a hand out for Lauren to shake that she hesitantly shook. She was very intimidated by the other woman. Whatever confidence she thought she had seemed to falter.
Natasha noticed her hesitance and pointedly ignored it. Clearly, she was more interested in something else and had no qualms in making Lauren uncomfortable. She also seemed to be pleased with the other's reaction.
Despite feeling cowed by the other woman. Lauren couldn't help but plow right on, asking for the Black Widow's personal approval on her presence in her territory.
Yes, territory. Lauren felt like prey under her predator's mercy.
So she was surprised by how casually said predator accepted her.
"The food helped, honestly," Natasha explained. "I thought Steve got take out from the café he's been telling us about. Which was unusual, since he only went to the café in the mornings. Clint told me about you. After I asked why there weren't any of the usual extras of Steve's post-run snacks. Your boss is an asshole by the way."
"Good thing he isn't my boss anymore then," Lauren stated almost amused that she's been hearing the same things from the Avengers she's met so far.
"Oh, were you going to use the gym? I'm nearly done, about 20 minutes more if you'd prefer to do your workout alone." Lauren enquired after noticing Natasha's workout clothes.
"I was actually curious about yours, mind if I kept watching?" Natasha answered. Though, from the way she spoke, it was clear that she was going to watch regardless of what Lauren said.
"I could teach you. After I finish that is." Lauren offered hesitantly. The lull in conversation seemed deafening to her, even if she was aware of the music that played in the background.
Natasha didn't answer for what Lauren felt like an embarrassing 10 minutes. But really it was only a few seconds later when Natasha nodded her head in acceptance.
And that was how the two resident females of the Avengers' Tower spent the rest of their morning.
They got on like a house on fire. Both women were so starved with female companionship. They already had an unspoken agreement to spend as much time together as they could. So, after cooling down from their workout and showering, the two ladies spent the rest of the day together. It was mere coincidence that it was Natasha's free day and Lauren had nothing else to do for the next few hours.
They found quite a lot of mutual ground. Both had the tendency to be surrounded by males, who, to their irritation and amusement, were more dramatic than they were. And when they weren't complaining and laughing over the men in their lives, they went into the finer aspects of being a female.
Lauren asked Natasha how she could still look so feminine but so badass at the same time, even in regular clothes. To which Natasha decided on letting Lauren try some of her clothes. Lauren didn't want to accept at first, as she didn't have the same proportions as the other woman. But she acquiesced when Natasha had suggested they stick to tops that would work with whatever bottoms she had.
They also exchanged tips and tricks on everything they could think about. Natasha somehow decided to share some tips related to her profession whenever she found a topic she could connect it to. Like how to properly hold a kitchen knife as a weapon, or how to properly use stiletto heels to defend oneself. You know, just in case.
And that was how they were found by Steve, James, and Clint. They were very amused to find Natasha inadvertently claiming Lauren as her protégé. But they were quick to break up the mini-training session. They were on a mission to ask for Lauren for food.
Lauren who realized that the men's presence meant she was behind schedule in dinner preparations. She was quick to start working but was surprised to hear Natasha offer to help. She was loath to turn it down after spending the day with the red-headed woman.
"Thanks, but I'm kind of… I prefer to work alone in the kitchen… if that's okay…" Lauren explained hesitantly, wincing when she saw the calculating glint of Natasha's eyes. Though it passed so quickly that she wasn't even sure if she actually saw it. She couldn't mistake the look of understanding that adorned Natasha's eyes though. But it was enough for her to amend her statement. "I'd love your help with the salads though. When I finish preparing everything that is."
"I'll be waiting right here then." Natasha grinned and giving Lauren a small nod of approval. To which Lauren mouthed her thanks as she set off to prepare.