Project Hellhound

The pastries Thor brought disappear quickly as conversation flows around me. I remain in my corner, observing each interaction with careful attention. The dynamics between these people fascinate me-the way they move between tension and ease, seriousness and humor. It's nothing like the rigid hierarchy of handlers and assets I'm accustomed to.

Sam leans back in his chair, coffee mug balanced precariously on his knee. "So what's the plan for today?" He glances toward the hallway. "Besides fixing the guest room that Barnes redecorated?"

Bucky's jaw tightens minutely. "Wasn't exactly a planned renovation."

"Oh, you don't say?" Tony remarks, not looking up from his tablet. He taps the screen with deliberate movements. "Here I thought you were auditioning for Property Brothers: Winter Soldier Edition."

"Tony," Steve warns quietly, but there's less heat in it than there could be.

"What?" Tony spreads his hands innocently. "Just saying what everyone's thinking. You've got to admit, Barnes has a certain flair for the dramatic when it comes to-"

"You should talk," Steve interrupts, the corner of his mouth quirking upward despite himself. "Wasn't it last month you blew out an entire wall of your lab because you needed-" he makes air quotes, "'better ventilation'?"

"That," Tony points his stylus at Steve with emphasis, "was a calculated structural modification." He straightens his posture defensively. "Completely different."

Natasha leans forward, one eyebrow perfectly arched. "How exactly?"

"I sent a memo first," Tony answers without missing a beat.

Steve shakes his head, unable to fully hide his smile. "How long before it's repaired?"

"Contractors are already scheduled," Tony replies, glancing briefly at his tablet. "Should be good to go by this afternoon."

"That fast?" Steve raises an eyebrow.

"Must be nice having Stark money," Sam mutters into his coffee.

"Obscenely nice," Tony agrees, flashing a grin with zero shame. "I have a standing agreement with a crew that specializes in..." He waves his hand in a circular motion, searching for words. "Let's call it 'superhero-related property damage.' They don't ask questions, work fast, and-"

"And bill accordingly," Natasha finishes for him, a quirk to her lips.

"Worth every penny for the discretion," Tony counters, spinning his tablet between his fingers. He pauses, eyeing Bucky. "Though I should start charging a security deposit for certain houseguests."

Bucky takes a slow sip of coffee, deliberately ignoring the comment. His eyes flick toward me briefly, checking.

"To be fair," Vision interjects, "the structural damage was confined to non-load-bearing walls. The integrity of the building wasn't compromised."

"Thanks for the engineering assessment, Vis," Tony says. "Next time I'll be sure to tell Barnes which walls are load-bearing so he can focus his redecorating efforts appropriately."

Wanda, who has been quiet throughout the exchange, places a gentle hand on Vision's arm. "I don't think that's what he meant, Tony."

"I was merely attempting to provide context," Vision explains.

Thor reaches across the table for another pastry, only to return empty handed. "In Asgard, we consider battle damage to be honorable scars upon our dwellings! Each dent and crack tells a story of valor!"

"Yeah, well, my contractors tell a different story-usually with a lot of zeros at the end," Tony mutters.

"You can afford it, Stark," Bucky says, his voice low but carrying just enough for everyone to hear.