Zoë's eyes widened when she caught sight of Steve walking through the halls towards the lab. She yelped and dived under the desk "I'm not here!" She whispered urgently when Bruce looked at her questioningly.
"Where is she?" Steve's voice rang through the room.
Bruce stuttered, his eyes darting to Zoë by his feet "Where is who?" He asked.
Damn he was a bad liar.
"Zoë, you're not supposed to be working" Steve said sternly.
Zoë sighed and stood up "I wasn't" she whined, looking over at the man.
Steve crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at her "Then what are you doing down here in the lab?" He asked.
She grinned and linked her arm with one of Bruce's "Well I'm just spending some quality time with my favourite scientist, that's what friends do right?" She asked.
Steve rolled his eyes and shook his head "Come on kid, you still have two days of rest" he insisted.
Zoë sighed and looked back over at Bruce "I have to go, Captain grumpy-pants won't let me have any fun" she grumbled.
Bruce chuckled and shook his head "Don't worry, I won't do anything groundbreaking without you" he promised.
Zoë grinned and unlinked her arm "You should get some rest too, if I have to suffer through that party on Friday so do you" she bargained with a laugh before following Steve out of the lab.
"So, this Tom guy" Steve started.
Zoë groaned and shook her head "If you're about to play the protective father card I swear I'll jump out that window" she threatened, pointing to the glass to her left.
Steve chuckled and shook his head "I was just going to say I'm glad you have him. When you ran off yesterday, damn kid I've never been that worried in my life. I can't tell you how relieved I was to see you two together" he said before laughing "that is after I got over the initial shock of seeing you kissing a total stranger" he added.
Zoë laughed and shook her head "He's not a stranger to me" she argued.
He grinned and nodded "True, so he was there while you were still with Hydra?" He asked.
Zoë nodded "He was with me through every single second of torture" she confirmed.
"I guess I understand why you're so close then" he said.
Maybe after she explained everything, after both she and them had the whole truth, she'd be able to tell Steve and the others that the man she loved so much was actually Loki.
"Well if I'm still not allowed to work, would you teach me how to fight properly?" She asked as they walked into the elevator.
Steve smiled at her and nodded "Sure" he agreed.
After a few hours of relentless training Steve glanced up at the woman he was so fond of and laughed breathlessly from where he had been knocked to the ground.
"Your discipline and determination is unparalleled, kid" he praised "it's like you don't even feel pain" he added.
Zoë shifted uncomfortably and offered him her hand to help him up. "Hydra has some really effective conditioning techniques" she explained. "'Round the clock torture has its benefits" she attempted to joke.
Steve frowned and took her hand, standing up and putting his arm around her small shoulders "Come on, let's take a break and grab some food" he suggested.
Zoë wiped sweat from her brow and nodded, Steve was actually a very good teacher and she felt a lot more confident about her combat skills. Of course they were no where near as impressive as his or Nat's but they would keep her alive if all else failed.
They made their way out of the gym and back up the elevator to return to the living quarters. As the doors slid open Zoë was greeted by the same beautiful face she had been excited to see again.
"Nat!" She exclaimed.
The red head turned and grinned back "Hey cutie" she greeted affectionately before opening her arms wide.
Zoë accepted the unspoken invitation and dashed up to her, hugging her tightly. Despite the fact that they had only met recently, Nat felt like the big sister she didn't know she always wanted.
Steve chuckled warmly as he walked up to the two of them "How come you'll let Nat and Tom hold you like that, but not your old man?" He asked.
Zoë scowled at him and poked her tongue out "Because you smell" she joked.
Nat laughed and pulled away from the hug "Who's Tom?" She asked curiously.
"Her boyfriend" Sam answered for them as he approached from the stairs.
Nat nodded, looking back at Zoë "Makes sense" she said.
Zoë smiled "What's that supposed to mean?" She asked with a nervous laugh.
The other woman grinned at her "Come on, you're gorgeous Zoë. I'm not exactly surprised you have a boyfriend" she explained "a little disappointed maybe" she added with a quick wink.
Zoë blushed darkly and Sam whistled "Damn girl, look at you getting all the attention" he teased, affectionately shoving her arm.
Zoë shoved him back and shook her head "Nat I need your help, I only have like three shirts and two pairs of jeans and I've never been very good at the whole shopping thing" she admitted honestly.
Nat grinned and nodded "Perfect! I need to get a new outfit for Friday anyway. Are you free now?" She asked.
Zoë looked over at Steve as they were still in the middle of training "Go ahead, kid. We can continue another day" he assured her.
She smiled gratefully and nodded "Let me just go shower and change" she replied turning back to Nat. After all that sparring she had worked up quite the sweat and didn't exactly want to go shopping like that.
Zoë dashed up the stairs and down to her room. Part of her expected to see Loki waiting for her somewhere in the room but unfortunately it was empty. She pushed aside her disappointment and stripped her clothes off. She showered quickly and pulled her last set of clothes on before making her way back down the stairs.
"Zoë, is it okay if Pepper comes with us?" Nat asked as she came into view.
Zoë smiled at the woman with strawberry blonde hair and nodded "Of course" she agreed, she was curious to get to know the woman that had managed to tie down Tony Stark.
A relieved smile spread on her face and she stood "I look forward to getting to know you" she said.
Zoë smiled a little wider and nodded "Let's go then, I've got a huge wardrobe in that room that's just too depressing to see so empty" she urged with a laugh.
Nat chuckled and nodded "You don't have to tell me twice" she agreed.
****
"Come on and show us!" Nat insisted as she and Pepper were sat outside the changing rooms.
"I don't know, I don't think I have the body to pull this off" Zoë doubted as she glanced at herself in the mirror. The other two women had convinced her to try on this short backless blue dress.
"Well we won't know until you show us" Pepper argued.
They were right. Zoë sighed and pulled the curtain to the side before stepping out. The two woman watched as Zoë slowly turned "Well?" She asked.
"You look hot" Nat confirmed.
Zoë blushed and laughed before looking at Pepper for her opinion. She smiled and nodded "It looks really good" she agreed.
Zoë hummed and glanced in the mirror once again, it was nice but... it just didn't feel right. She looked back at the women to tell them what she thought when a flash of green caught her eyes. She turned and saw it. The perfect dress. Nat and Pepper both followed her eye-line and grinned.
"Oh absolutely" Pepper enthused.
Nat nodded and quickly stood, retrieving the dress they were all looking at. She eagerly handed it to Zoë and shooed her back into the changing room.
Zoë pulled the curtain shut once more and let the blue dress drop to the floor. She replaced it onto the hanger and smiled widely as she stepped into the flowing green and gold iridescent fabric. Zoë knew the second she saw herself in the mirror that this was the one. It looked like him.
She confidently pulled the curtain aside and stepped out in front of the other two women. They both gasped and Zoë grinned "Yeah, this is the one" she confirmed.
Pepper nodded enthusiastically "You look breathtaking" she confirmed.
****
4 hours and an ungodly amount of money later Zoë had a new wardrobe and both Pepper and Nat had a few options for the party on Friday.
Zoë excused herself to go put away everything she had bought while Pepper and Nat asked the boys what they wanted to order for dinner.
Finally once the tedious task of hanging clothes and folding underwear was done Zoë changed into some of the lounge wear she had bought and left to join the others.
"Better?" Pepper asked, seeing Zoë walk down the stairs.
Zoë grinned down at her black shorts and sweater and nodded "So much better" she confirmed. She walked into the living room and sat beside Bruce on the couch, folding her legs underneath her "Did you get some rest?" She asked him.
He smiled at her and nodded "Slept for a solid 6 hours" he confirmed with a chuckle.
Zoë smiled wider and rested her head on his shoulder, after all the training and then all the shopping she was positively exhausted. "I'm glad" she said softly.
Bruce hesitated for a second before wrapping his arm around Zoë's waist so she could be more comfortable. "Long day?" He asked.
Zoë nodded "I'm not much of a shopping girl" she confessed. While it was fun to spend time with Nat and get to know Pepper, she would have much rather stayed in the lab with Bruce.
"Well as long as you're not too hung over on Saturday, we should be able to get back to work" he noted.
Zoë chuckled "I doubt there will be anything there that could touch me, we have some pretty impressive drinks back home, the first beer I tried when I arrived in the states tasted like bulls piss" she complained, making a face as she remembered the revolting taste.
Bruce chuckled and so did Tony as he walked over to join the two of them "I'm offended you think my drinks will be sub par" he stated, dramatically falling down onto one of the other couches
"Can you even get drunk?" Steve asked as he also joined them, Pepper, Sam and Nat following closely behind. "A side effect of Erskine's serum for me was a fast metabolism. I can't get drunk" he added.
Zoë frowned and lifted her head from where it was resting on Bruce's shoulder. "I don't actually know. I haven't had the chance since the test" she answered.
Nat grinned mischievously as she sat down "Why don't we find out? I wouldn't mind a little welcome home drink" she suggested.
Steve shook his head "I don't know if that's a good idea" he doubted.
Zoë rolled her eyes but nodded "I hate to agree with father dearest but he might be right" she conceded.
Tony smirked then "What is it? You scared, kid?" He taunted.
"Oh that did it" Bruce said as Zoë glared at the other man.
She sat up straight and leaned forward "Bring it, old man" she challenged.
Tony grinned like he'd won the lottery and Nat clapped "Hell yeah!" She exclaimed.
Pepper laughed and rolled her eyes "I'll go grab the good whisky and some glasses. Sam, Bruce you want any?" She asked.
Sam nodded eagerly and Bruce shook his head "I think I'll sit this one out" he denied.
Zoë shook her head quickly "No no, Pepper grab him a glass too. If I'm doing this experiment then my lab partner is doing it with me" she corrected, looking at the man next to her.
He sighed but nodded giving her a smile "Alright" he agreed.
After a few moments Pepper returned with a large bottle and a glass for each of them. Once they all had their drinks Zoë grinned, raising hers.
"Prost!" She cheered.
Nat grinned and raised her own "Na zdorovje!" She exclaimed.
They both simultaneously downed the double of whisky and tapped the glass down on the table. Tony was next with Steve taking the whole glass down in one while Pepper, Sam and Bruce all sipped at theirs.
"What's the betting Nat and I can drink Tin Can under the table?" Zoë asked as she filled each of the empty glasses.
Nat laughed and Steve nodded "I'll take that bet" he agreed.
"What did you call me?" Tony asked.
Zoë just grinned and held her glass up again "Bottoms up" she toasted, once again downing the contents of the glass, admittedly the liquor was actually quite adequate.