Just Like a Movie.

Dinner for five....minutes

"I think you already know each other..."

"Hi again." Tom smiled and held out his hand, trying not to shake.  His mind was shouting at him, his pulse racing. This wasn't so much a surprise as an absolutely mind-blowing rush. Calm, he told himself, calm. Don't scare her half to death.

"Hi." Alice smiled and grasped it. Play it calm, she told herself. Don't be an embarrassment to everyone, including Tom. This was just a dream, this didnt happen to people like her. As his hand enveloped hers, strong and warm, she suppressed an automatic moan.  Oh God, it WAS real, and he was really REALLY holding her hand.

Fighting the mutual urge to just grab each other and kiss, they over compensated like two shy teenagers. They shook hands in the single, most excruciatingly awkward encounter imaginable.  Kenny rolled his eyes, shaking his head as they then proceeded to stand and stare silently at each other.  

"You having lunch?" Tom finally managed to string a few words  together, her hand still in his. In his head, even he winced. Of all the stupid things he could have said...

"Yes," her equally foggy brain replied, barely able to register what was happening.

"With your... brother?" This was getting desperate. Tom looked at Kenny, who nodded and cleared his throat, trying not to laugh at them. 

"Yes." Alice looked at Tom, who looked at Alice.  This was descending into farce.  Before she turned and simply fled, salvation came in the form of a disembodied voice from the side. 

"Tom! You said you didn't know her!  You sly old dog you!" A woman's voice cut across the restaurant and the awkward silence.  Scarlett had finally noticed their little encounter.

"I don't,"

"He doesn't," 

Their answers came in unison, breaking the tension, making them relax.  Laughing and blushing, they let go of their hands. Alice finally remembered to breathe before she passed out. 

Scarlett nudged Evans, who looked up from the menu he was perusing. 

"Go and rescue the Cutsie Twins, would you? Before they self-combust?"

He grinned and stood, walking over. Taking the shy bull by the horns, he put a hand on Tom's shoulder.  "Well, I think you should remedy that right now." he turned to the siblings. "I'm Chris - and I'm sure you'll know Scarlett? Please... join us for lunch? There's plenty of room."  He indicated the tables that had been set aside.

Tom held his breath. He would remember to hug Scarlett very tightly later.  Please say yes, please say yes, please say yes, he intoned silently.  Her answer made him almost let out a little 'no'. Almost.

"Oh, no, we really couldn't impose..." Alice started to say, but as she saw Tom's face fall, she stopped. "Could we?" She looked at him and he smiled.

"It be lovely to have you..." Instantly, in reconnecting, he got lost in her eyes. As he heard a less than subtle snigger from behind him, hurriedly added, "Join us... it would be lovely to have you join us.  Both of you."  He turned and looked desperately at Kenny in a kind of silent man-code for "help me buddy!"

"Well, in that case, lead on!" Kenny winked and almost threw Alice into his arms as he marched off towards the table with Chris.  Alice may have been getting her own version of heaven, but by God, he was going to enjoy lunch with Captain America and Black Widow...

Tom ushered her in front, automatically putting a gentle hand on the small of her back. With ingrained good manners, he guided her to the table.  Her insides clenched at his touch, and her mind wondered how it would feel to have his hands on the rest of her. She could only pray her face didn't reflect her feelings.

As he walked, his hand on her back, the warmth of her body flooded, and the delicate fragrance of her perfume filled his senses.  God, she smelled wonderful.  She felt wonderful.  Did she taste... oh dear, GOD, get a grip, Hiddleston... of her... he swallowed and walked on.

Chris Scarlett and Kenny arranged themselves at one end, forcing Tom and Alice together at the other.

She felt herself melt all over again as he held her chair out for her.  As he bent to tuck it in under her, she could have sworn she felt his breath on her neck where her hair was up in its usual ponytail.  Stop it! She told herself. There's no way.  He'd have to be virtually panting....

"Thanks." She murmured, looking at up him demurely. Tom smiled, straightening up, masking his raging excitement. Cool, Hiddles, be cool. Stop the heavy breathing. She might not fancy you....

Alice tried to read the menu. It might as well have been written in Wakandan. Letters and words swam in front of her, making no sense.

Gradually, she became aware of someone speaking to her.

"Ss... sorry... could you repeat that?" She blushed furiously as she realised Chris had asked her a question.

Evans grinned and winked at her. "I was just wondering if you'd like some water?" He held out a jug, and she lifted her glass, thankful for the distraction.

"Yes, yes, please." She waited as he filled it, and then she placed it next to her. Or so she thought.  What she actually did was drop it over the side of the table and into Tom's lap.

With a jolt, he jumped up, and the glass smashed as it hit the floor.  Pandemonium ensued as Tom and the waitress and Alice all tried to clear up the glass, wipe up the mess, and dab down Tom's spreading wet patch.  Unfortunately - or fortunately depending on their point of view - Alice ended up dabbing the wet patch by mistake. As she realised what she was doing, she let out a little squeal. Tom looked down and then at her, shocked, and she dropped the napkin, covering her face with her hands.  

Jumping up, she ran for the door, mortified beyond measure. "Oh god!" she wailed, and before anyone could stop her, was gone. Tom started to go after her, but realising it looked like he'd had a MAJOR accident in his jeans, decided for his own barely preserved dignity, he had to let her go and sat down, napkin covering his lap.

Kenny and Chris clung onto each other, howling with laughter. This was better than the tv.  They tried to stifle their mirth in the face of both Tom and Scarletts frowns, but catching each other's eye sent them into spluttering hysteria all over again.

Before anyone else could say or do anything actually constructive, Scarlett went after her. "I'll get her.  You lot get this sorted.  Honestly, children, the lot of you."

As Tom watched his friend go, he sat and dabbed ineffectually at his now soaking crotch.  In truth, it wasn't the wet jeans that bothered him, it wasnt her attempting to mop him down. It wasn't even the embarrassment of the public hilarity. What bothered him the most?

The fact that he had unconsciously reacted in the most basic and physically obvious way possible to her touch.  And that, he told himself sadly, might just have been the nail in his fledgling fantasy's coffin.