The World Keeps Changing

Chapter 30

Natasha and Steve met me partway, walking up the path from the main building. Their faces quelled whatever frustration I had to vent for a moment. I could save some of it for later. Two new faces with them watched me approach with a mix of wariness and curiosity, one was quite strange. Natasha's expression was as schooled as I'd ever seen it. Steve could barely summon a hundred watts to his smile as he met my eyes. He looked incredibly tired, but relieved, too. "Cookie, you didn't have to come out to meet us."

My smile was mostly professional, very customer service and a little teasing at the edges. "I was getting concerned that you all needed rescuing from the debriefing room, Cap." I looked behind him. "Who'd you bring for dinner?"

His brows drew a little at my demeanor, but he introduced me by name, and then indicated the newcomers. "This is Wanda Maximoff, and Vision."

"Feel free to call me Cookie," I said warmly, "most of the Avengers do."

One of the people with them looked like a tall, bald man in a gray bodysuit and gold cape, except all the skin I could see of his face, neck and hands was red. I don't mean like he was sunburnt, I mean like a genuine, rich, apple red. And he had some sort of yellow gemstone embedded in his forehead, as well as some odd sort of contour lines like his face was actually made of different pieces put together. Well, I had a green friend, so what's having a red one, too? "A pleasure, Cookie." Vision extended a hand.

I took his hand and scrutinized him more closely. I knew that posh voice. "JARVIS?"

"The Artificial Intelligence known as JARVIS was utilized in my creation, and I do carry some aspects and memories of it. You seem to be one of them, chef. However, I am a different entity."

I smiled at the idea of a little piece of JARVIS surviving whatever he had been through, "My apologies, Vision. I was a little surprised when your voice was exactly like JARVIS, whom I liked a lot. I look forward to getting to know you as well."

He smiled back politely, and I turned my attention to the woman beside him, and offered my hand. "Welcome, Wanda." I gave her my best warm smile. "I kind of take care of things around here. Just let me know if there's any way I can help you be more comfortable."

She looked guarded, but took my hand and smiled politely. She had a thick Eastern European accent. "Thank you. It's nice to meet you... Cookie."

I gave her an encouraging nod. "Dinner's on the stove, y'all. Wanda, the red pot on the stove is the only thing that isn't vegetarian friendly." Steve seemed about to say something, but I continued. "I'll catch up, Steve." He almost looked a little hurt, like I'd reprimanded him, just a tiny tensing at the corners of his eyes, but he fell quiet. "Nat, can I have a few minutes?"

She regarded me for a long moment and then nodded. I led her off the path as the others continued toward the mansion. "You know you did me dirty, Romanov."

"There was no reason to stress you out about it, he was supposed to stay under wraps for those few days and then be out on mission."

"Bullshit. It was a solid week, and that's not the fucking point, Nat. You know it. Tell me you wouldn't be plotting my murder if it was the other way around."

She refused to meet my eyes. "Probably."

"Is he going to be back?"

"Between missions, yes."

"And when were you going to tell me?"

"Soon." She sighed, "I didn't think this one would be relevant. Not like we planned on you being here so soon. I was going to tell you after everyone was settled, and before he was due back from his current mission. It wasn't that I wanted to hide it from you, I wanted to give you time to get used to the idea before you saw him."