Chapter Text
When it’s all over, they get shawarma.
“It’s tradition”, apparently, or so Carol has been told by a tired-looking Dr. Banner. When he’d finally hulked out, it had been quite the spectacle. Now he’s fast asleep, wrapped in Dr. Strange’s cape.
The team is sprawled around a cluster of tables that the food truck vendors had hastily pulled together, and they’re all still in their battle-gear.
Honestly, Carol couldn’t even tell you what country they’re in right now. The past few days (days? hours? weeks? Time had gotten a little funny, out in space. She hopes Chewie got fed, hopes Jess remembered the food she likes best) have melted into one big battlefield.
Her hair smells like burning, and her eyes hurt from the blinding light of firing so many energy rays.
She’s consumed an otherworldly amount of food in the last ten minutes, but her body is still yearning for more.
Stopping a Titan, altering reality, it works up quite the appetite.
To her left, Bucky, Shuri, and Rocket are playfully squabbling over the last of the falafel. How they have the energy to is beyond her, honestly.
Shuri distracts them with the oldest trick in the book, an exaggerated gasp and point, swiping up the final morsel when their heads are turned.
Bucky pouts when he realises he’s been had, and from Carol’s other side Steve lets out a low noise of amusement.
He’s barely taken his eyes off of Bucky since the reality-warp, and when Bucky glances their way, giving Steve a lopsided smile, she can see why.
Across from Carol, Tony —who is trying his best to appear comfortable, lounging in his Iron Man armour — is talking quietly with Peter Parker, one hand on his shoulder. There’s a haunted look in his eyes, for a moment, but then Peter says something and Tony is pulling him into a hug, face turned soft and calm. Tony looks at Dr. Strange, giving him a barely-perceptible nod of the head. Strange gives a little bow in return, leaning back in his chair and taking a generous bite of his shawarma, the Time Stone safely around his neck once more.
Vision is hovering behind Strange, at the food truck, scrutinising the menu with Wanda at his side. She has one of his hands between hers, and little scarlet sparks of her magic are lazily curling around the place where they join together. Wanda seems to be quizzing him on ingredients, pointing to the little spice jars that line the back wall of the truck.
Falcon and War Machine are catching up the rest of the Guardians on what went down in Wakanda, with Sam’s impressions sending them into fits of laughter. Even T’Challa joins in at Sam’s impression of him, and when Okoye shows off her own impersonation, Sam looks like he’s in love.
Rhodey steps back from the crowd, withdrawing a ringing cell phone from somewhere inside his suit, answering it in a clipped tone, face concerned. A second later though he’s smiling again, giving coordinates to someone Carol’s sure he calls Pepper, joking about wedding venues.
Nat and Clint approach Carol, more food piled high in their arms, sinking to sit at her and Steve’s feet.
“Captains,” Clint says in greeting, sharing out their haul. Rocket appears suddenly at Nat’s elbow, and she rolls her eyes, passing over another plate of falafel that he takes with a triumphant shout.
Carol takes her share, muttering thank you, and turns to see that Steve is already halfway through his next wrap.
“Slow down, Rogers,” Nat says. “We don’t want you to be one of those old men who meets their end by choking to death.” Steve holds up his middle finger in response.
“Steve, not in front of the children,” Tony chides in mock-outrage, putting a hand over Peter’s eyes. The kid knocks his hand out of the way with a sigh, but given how pleased he looks to be at Tony’s side, there’s no sting to it.
“Steven, even the rabbit has more manners than you,” Thor mumbles around a mouthful of food, gesturing towards Rocket. Given that at that moment, Rocket is attempting to steal Bucky’s arm, it doesn’t exactly put Cap in great company.
Carol pats Steve on the shoulder. “Hey, it’s not Steve’s fault he was in the Army,” she says. Carol looks over at Wilson and Rhodey, who seem to sense where this is going, by the smiles on their faces.
“Yeah, Air Force would’ve taught you how to behave,” Sam adds, dramatically puffing out his chest, the very picture of a patriot.
“Plus, then you could’ve landed that plane,” Rhodey quips. Tony gives him a no-look high five.
Bucky gestures in agreement, “See pal, no freezing necessary.”
“Wow, Carol, thanks,” Steve says, voice heavy with sarcasm, eyes lit with amusement. “Didn’t take you long to settle in.”
“Hey, with being an Avenger comes great roasting responsibility,” Clint says solemnly, as if reciting an ancient law. “Danvers is one of us.” He places a hand on her shoulder.
And Carol beams.