Beauty is a Beast

Chapter 21: On The Loose

*Kat's POV*

With an optimistic ding the elevator door opened to the pent house. The first thing I did was walk to the bar to throw my note away if it was still there. Can you believe my luck?

I snatch the piece of paper and shoved it into my back pocket. Hey, maybe I'll get through today without having to lie or be lied to. That would be something.

I strolled around the top floor to see if anyone was there, but I came up empty in my search. When I ended up in the kitchen last my stomach growled, demanding to be filled.

Let's see my options: Go tell everyone that I went to visit the person who we all loath and put in a cell just the other day, or eat some of Dr. Banner's famous pasta that was left over.

I will tell you something that will never change about me. When I am faced with the options to be scolded or to stuff my face, I will always choose the latter. And that's how Tony found me, sitting on the counter with my cheeks puffed out, my mouth overflowing with noodles, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese.

I managed a small, innocent smile when he gave me a disgusted, yet impressed look.

"How much can you fit in that mouth of yours?" he question as he made a pot of coffee.

I swallowed before I answered, "Let me put it this way, I could smoke the Hulk in a game of Chubby Bunny."

Tony shook his head and swore under his breath and he poured the contents from a flash into his coffee.

"You want creamer with your liquor?" I teased.

"If you wouldn't mind, yes, please?"

I laughed as I hopped off the counter and pulled the creamer out of the fridge.

"What are your plans for the day?" Tony asked as I handed him the creamer.

Grabbing my bowl, I shrugged my shoulders, "Not sure yet. But I'm feeling confident. How about...world domination?"

"If those are your plans then you'll need a bigger breakfast."

"Or crack in my coffee?" I pointed out as he went to drink from his mug.

My comment made him snort into his mug, causing me to wince at how painful that would be if it came out of his nose.

"Whatever works." he laughed.

I liked these little domestic moments I have with them. Talking to Tony in the kitchen because we're the first ones up. Working out with Steve in the gym. Gossiping with Natasha about stories in magazines. Reading with Loki in the living room while we try to ignore Thor and Clint playing video games a little too loudly. And how could I forget geeking out with Dr. Banner about Doctor Who while Logan rolls his eyes at us from behind his newspaper.

There will come a day when I won't have this and its coming around the corner too quickly. Even more so with the new information I have from Sabertooth. There's no denying that Taylor is alive and plotting against me, this time I know that he's actually working with the Dark Elves. And what was that all about since they killed my people? I got away from what exactly? How long have the Dark Elves been looking for me?

Tony must have noticed the uneasiness on my face because he spoke up about it.

"Hey, you okay, kiddo?"

He looked so worried about my well-being that it made my heart hurt slightly. To have to add someone else to my list that might get hurt at the end of all of this.

A wave came over me. I don't know what had happened but it was so sudden and so fast that I was shocked when I couldn't move or feel the ground under my feet. Or control the words that came out of my mouth.