As The World Caves In: An Avengers / Star Wars Story

noodles and eggs

**Don't skip ahead to read translations or risk spoilers**

Tony turns and leads the way inside. My stomach clenches as I follow behind him. My small headache begins to transition into a tingle. Something about Tony tony is to come and I do not believe it can be this meal. I step onto the wooden floor and evergreen rug in the foyer, watching as Pepper smiles at all of us. I will not let anything happen to the man with a family.

As I enter the kitchen, Pepper takes back over control of the cooking device from the compound, and as I see Pepper take Morgan from Tony, I feel the fleeting feeling of a deep wishing to be back during the Clone Wars. I had masters, I had friends, that I could consult about these premonitions. I can barely read them now with Master Yoda's or Shaak Ti's help.

Steve sits in a chair at the end of the table, while Natasha takes the one to the left of him. I'm left with the chair next to her and opposite of Morgan, drinking some sort of orange liquid in a clear cup. Tony sits at the other head, between Morgan and I. Pepper comes around with a large silver pot, filled with some kind of yellow noodle as she plops a scoop full into each person bowl. Steve and Natasha smile a thanks to Pepper, I would too, but I am too preoccupied with the weird substance in my bowl.

I stare down at my noodles, not entirely sure as to what I am supposed to be eating. I reach for the fork besides the bowl as Morgan looks at me curiously. I startle when I catch her gaze, but turn my expression into a smile and wave. Natasha attempts to begin some pleasant conversation with Pepper, asking her about the house and her life through the five years. Any sort of conversation to break the heavy awkwardness. I would help too, but I am too busy watching the young girl absent mindedly eats her noodles, never loosing eye contact with my right shoulder. The conversation between Natasha and Pepper quickly dies, replaced by the oppressive silence over us all.

I have yet to touch my noodles, debating on eating the substance.

"You have funny eyes," I look up as Morgan keeps her eyes on mine. "I like them. Purple is pretty."

I open my mouth slightly, at a loss for words, before glancing over at Tony. His face crinkles into a bright smile as he looks at his daughter, revealing the crows feet at the corner of his eyes. It only reminds me of the time we are losing, of the time I had lost. Tony does not take his eyes off me as he answers my unasked question, "Purple is her favorite color."

I nearly laugh. I wish my people thought of it in the way this young child does instead of a threat to their power. Any of their power. My father experienced that pain first hand. I turn back and smile at the small girl, "Why, thank you, ad'ika*."

"What's that thing hanging from your ear?" Morgan asks, tilting her head to get a better look. Instinctively, I grasp the chain dangling and drop my eyes for a moment, giving into a small smile before looking back at Morgan.

"Because I had hunted a terrifying monster, I was awarded such... teeth," I reply, thinking of the best possible way to explain my actions to someone of such a young age, that does not quite understand the ways of the Jedi. I slide my finger from the clasp on the helix, down the small teeth that I had carved from the original large ones, to the Ur-diamond sticking it into my lobe.

"Oooh, what kind of monster?" The young one questions. I bite my grinning bottom lip. "Do you save people from monsters?"

"That is my job. Some monsters hurt people or scare people with their scary teeth, so I take those monsters teeth," I answer, letting go of the chain. I continue to hold my smile as I look into Morgan's curious face as it slowly turns to worry.