Rowan stood by the sink, wiping his lips, a bit stunned.
He hadn't expected that reaction from Natasha.
"Looks like Natasha's still deeply affected by what happened to her in childhood... having her uterus removed," Rowan thought to himself with a sigh.
"I'll have Maya Hansen speed up the refinement of the Extremis Virus."
"If her progress is too slow, then once I get access to items like Spirit of Verdure, Amethyst Dew, or Azure Marrow in the Devouring World, I can use those to help Natasha instead."
That thought flashed through Rowan's mind as he returned to cooking.
"I'm back!"
Just as the broth was finishing, Hill stepped through the door.
"Whoa, that smells amazing!"
She was immediately hit with the strong, mouthwatering scent of spicy hot pot broth and her eyes lit up.
"Coulson? Captain?"
Hill looked over and saw Coulson and Steve Rogers sitting in the living room.
"I invited Coulson to join us for hot pot," Rowan explained. "Since the Captain was around too, I figured why not invite him as well?"
"Oh, hot pot tonight?" Hill nodded, but her attention was already captured by the simmering aroma in the air.
"Yeah. It's your favorite the spicy butter base. But go easy this time."
Rowan gave her a helpless glance. Last time they had spicy hot pot, Hill ate herself into pure bliss… only to pay the price the next day. She'd spent half the morning groaning in the restroom, then took a sick day from Fury to rest at home.
People who don't usually eat spicy food really can't handle the aftermath.
"Alright, alright, I get it."
Hill shot him a look, clearly embarrassed. "You don't have to tell the whole room."
"Hot pot's ready!"
About ten minutes later, Rowan finished prepping all the vegetables and meats. He brought the broth pot over, holding it steadily in his hands while plates and trays floated behind him carried effortlessly by his telekinetic powers.
"Ro… Rowan, what is this?!"
Seeing the plates hovering in midair behind him, Coulson and Steve froze, eyes wide, mouths hanging open.
Hill and Natasha both snorted into laughter.
Rowan just smiled. He hadn't bothered hiding it. Sooner or later, people would learn about his ability better to just be open.
"This is a superpower I recently awakened. It's a kind of telekinesis. Nothing to be alarmed about."
"Tele… telekinesis?" Coulson stammered.
But he recovered quickly.
After all, he was sitting next to Captain America, and they'd recently witnessed Norse mythology come to life. Shock had become part of daily routine.
"Exactly."
Rowan floated a pair of bowls and chopsticks over to Coulson and Steve.
Steve was still wide-eyed, but took the utensils with a mix of curiosity and awe.
"So superpowers aren't just sci-fi or comic book stuff... they're real?" he asked.
"Of course," Rowan replied. "You don't believe me? Ask Coulson. Forget superpowers myths can be real."
"It's true," Coulson said, nodding.
"Captain, not long ago, the God of Thunder himself showed up right in front of me. I'm not kidding. He was literally holding a hammer and flying around with it like a helicopter."
Coulson's face twitched, still trying to process it all.
"Huh?"
Steve's expression cracked, unsure whether to laugh or wince.
But he was no stranger to the unbelievable. As someone who had fought through the war and faced the Red Skull, he adjusted quickly.
"Looks like I've really fallen behind the times," he shrugged with a wry smile.
"Ha!"
That made everyone laugh, lightening the mood.
Rowan looked at Steve and chuckled. So the Captain wasn't as stiff and solemn as people said when he loosened up, he even had a sense of humor.
"Whoa, that's hot!"
Once the table was set, Steve gave chopsticks a try and dipped a slice of beef into the bubbling broth.
The moment he chewed it, his taste buds exploded.
As a Super Soldier, Steve could handle the heat. He toughed it out and swallowed the bite.
Then, his face lit up.
Because beyond the heat, there was an incredible richness bold spice, numbing tingles, and the savory flavor of tender beef.
Sweat formed on his forehead and cheeks, but he couldn't help dipping another slice in.
"This is amazing!"
He gave Rowan a thumbs-up, and the others chuckled. His reaction was exactly the same as theirs when they first had hot pot.
Soon, everyone was dripping with sweat as they demolished the table full of ingredients. The whole room was steeped in the spicy, aromatic scent of hot pot.
Used napkins piled high on the table Coulson and Steve's efforts to mop their faces.
Rowan and Hill were both pretty used to spicy food and didn't sweat as much. Natasha? She came prepared with a towel draped around her neck.
"Thanks for the meal, Rowan."
By the time the hot pot feast ended, it was past nine. At the door, Steve turned to Rowan with a smile.
"No need to thank me, Captain," Rowan said casually. "You're welcome anytime."
"I'll drive you back, Captain," Coulson offered enthusiastically. "I brought a car."
"Alright. Thanks."
Soon, Coulson and Steve were gone.
"Hill, Natasha open the windows and doors. Let's air the place out a bit."
Rowan used his telekinesis to clear the table, cleaning up the trash and dishes as he gave directions.
"Got it."
The group quickly split the tasks and tidied the place up.
Hill went to shower first. She'd gotten up early that morning and wanted to sleep soon.
After Natasha finished her own shower, only she and Rowan were left in the living room.
"What was that earlier?"
Rowan walked over and loomed slightly above her, voice low. "Care to explain?"
Natasha's eyes flickered evasively, but then she met his gaze. "What, I can't thank you in my own way?"
Rowan almost laughed mostly out of exasperation. Lowering his gaze, he caught another eyeful of her cleavage.
She wasn't wearing anything underneath again.
"Seriously? You're not wearing a bra again?"
Rowan frowned. "You said just one day."
"Hmph."
Natasha lifted her chin defiantly, arching her back to emphasize her chest. "I changed my mind."
Rowan let out a dry laugh.
Smack!
He swiftly slapped her rear.
"Ah!" Natasha flinched, startled.
Rowan was too fast she hadn't been able to dodge at all.
"If you've got the guts, come to my room tonight."
He gave her a hard look, then headed for the bathroom to shower.
At the door, he turned and added, "Next time you go braless, I'm doing it again. One slap for every offense."
"You—!"
Natasha was fuming, but he'd already closed the door behind him.
She stared at the silhouette through the frosted glass for a moment, nose wrinkling in annoyance.
When Rowan finished showering, Natasha was already in her room.
He smiled to himself.
With Natasha, tough love really did seem to work best.
After towel-drying his hair, he turned in for the night.
Tomorrow, he would meet the envoy from the Limit Martial Hall. He needed to be in top form.
…
Late that night, while Rowan was fast asleep, the doorknob to his room began to turn slowly and quietly.
The sound was faint, but Rowan's senses were razor-sharp. He woke instantly.
"Hm?"
His brow furrowed, muscles tensing.
His first instinct was intruder, but then he dismissed it. This was S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters impossible.
He extended his telekinetic sense, scanning the other side of the door.
A silhouette appeared in his mind.
"Natasha?"
From the outline and curves, it was obvious. Hill had a good figure, but she wasn't quite that well-endowed from front to back.
"This woman's insane… She actually came."
(In the MCU timeline, Natasha Romanoff was born in 1984, making her 24 at this point.)
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