Fic: Tales-By-The Sea I: “My Kingdom For A Lobster!!!” ;) (3/4)
Title: Tales-By-The Sea I: “My Kingdom For A Lobster!!!” ;) (3/4)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter):
Continuity: The Avengers (2012)
Genres: Fluff, Humor, (A Touch Of Hurt/Comfort), Romance, Slice-Of-Life
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
General Summary: Battle-weary Avengers are sent on vacation by Nick Fury with the dictum…have fun or else! ;)
Chapter Summary: Thor and Clint enjoy their first lobsters on the wharf.
Date Of Completion: August 13, 2013
Date Of Posting:
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, Marvel and Paramount do, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1623
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Notes: Inspired by this prompt at avengerkink. The entire series can be found here.
III
THE LOBSTERMEN’S CO-OP
Buoys ring as the thrum
Of engines reverberate
Throughout the harbor.
Water laps against
The wooden pilings
As seagulls screech
And scavenge for food.
Steam rises
As lobsters and clams
Star in the sumptuous
Shore dinners.
Laughter and the crack
Of the nutcracker
Echo out
Over the harbor
As the sun
Begins to set.
Jeannette Star
"Lobster On The Wharf"
1968 C.E.
The smell of cooking seafood tickled Steve's noise as he and Tony walked down the ramp, the wooden boards creaking. There was a smattering of customers sitting at the weatherbeaten picnic tables and placing their orders at the fish and lobster shacks. A little girl pulled a can of Mountain Dew out of the vending machine tray.
Thor and Bruce were right behind them. Steve glanced back and could see the Asgardian's big smile. Behind his sunglasses, Steve guessed his friend's blue eyes were sparkling.
They had considered buying lobsters and cooking them at the cottage, but no one had any experience in doing so, so they decided to go to The Lobstermen's Co-Op in town. That would require disguises if they wanted to keep their anonymity, so Clint, Natasha and Steve applied their make-up skills to everyone.
Steve's blond hair was covered by a Patriots cap. He had figured it was the best way to blend in here in Maine country. He wore a loose, long-sleeved light-blue shirt over his jeans and scuffed sneakers. Subtle applications of make-up changed his features just enough to keep people from recognizing him.
Tony wore dark sunglasses and a fake beard to cover his famous goatee, expertly applied by Steve, who was grateful for his U.S.O. days and his crash course in make-up back then. He wore faded light-blue cargo pants and a dark-blue tank top to cover the arc reactor's light. A loose cotton shirt completed his outfit, along with a soft denim hat and ragged sneakers.
Thor's hair was pulled back into a ponytail and he was wore gold wire-rimmed glasses, which delighted him, especially after Pepper commented how sexy he looked in them. His clothing was similar, jeans and a lightweight shirt over a tank top, both different shades of green. He wore dark-weave leather sandals.
Bruce was happily schlumping along in a battered old fishing hat, jeans, work boots and a blue-checked shirt. His features had been subtly altered by Natasha's hand.
Natasha and Pepper were wearing wigs. Natasha's was a long, brown wig. She had chosen denim shorts, sandals, and a red tank top with a squash-colored shirt tied at the waist. Pepper's wig was a short blond one. She had gone with jeans, yellow sandals, yellow sleeveless shirt, thin gold necklace, and sunglasses.
Clint wore a red wig, glasses, goatee, and a brown shirt a size too large with jeans and sandals. Phil wore a Red Sox cap, tan shirt and matching cargo pants. His sneakers were almost brand-new.
Steve hoped that the disguises worked. He wanted to eat his shore dinner in peace.
He led the group over to an area where ears of corn were boiling. Everyone had agreed on lobsters so they bypassed the fish shack where they could order haddock and other delicious items.
“Seven orders of corn, please,” Steve said. “Can we get onion rings, too?”
“Sure thing,” said the teenaged girl behind the vats of boiling corn. “Would you like to order clams, too?”
“Yes, seven orders, please.”
“Okay. Now, anyone ordering from the fish shack or will everyone be getting lobsters?”
“All lobsters.”
“Cool. Go right on inside and you can pick your lobsters.” She smiled, her brown eyes sparkling as she prepared to wait on the next customers.
The interior of the lobster shack was cool and dark. Steve could hear the water in the tanks running and walked over to the large bin where dozens of lobsters swam or walked on the bottom. As soon as he saw one huge lobster, he pointed. “That one,” and the dark-haired attendant pulled it out.
“Four-pounder,” the man drawled, easily holding onto the lobster with a well-muscled arm.
“Perfect.” Steve smiled at Thor. “For you.”
Thor’s smile was pure sunshine. “Thank you.” He was keeping mostly silent because his pattern of speech was so distinctive. He pointed to one that was a little smaller but was still big. “That one is yours.”
The attendant plucked it out. “Three-pounder.”
“I’ll take it,” said Steve with a smile of his own.
The rest of the group chose smaller lobsters, mainly two-pounders, and Phil chose a pound-and-a-half, mindful of his stomach on heavy medication.
Once the orders were set they were given a number and could be called to pick up their food. The team went to find a table while Steve paid. It was a hefty bill but he and the rest of the team were living rent-free at the Tower, with food always provided, and he liked the idea of paying for Tony’s meal.
Tony was waiting for him at the soda machine, leaning casually against it with his arms crossed. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Tony helped him with the seven cans of soda. They walked down the wharf to a table at the end. The water sparkled with dapples of sunlight as it rippled under the pilings. Seagulls kept up an incessant screeching and chattering as they wheeled around the harbor in search of fish. Pleasure and working boats bobbed at anchor as lobster boats maneuvered in-and-out of the harbor.
“Freshest fish you can get,” Steve said as a boat pulled up to the dock and delivered dripping lobster pots crammed with crustaceans.
“This is great, Steve,” Bruce said. “My kind of place.”
Steve grinned at his relaxed friend and took a swig of Coke.
“This is so authentic!” Thor declared, looking around in satisfaction.
“Doesn’t get any more real than this,” Natasha said, brushing her leg against Pepper’s under the table.
“Number 76, your order is ready,” crackled a voice over the tinny loudspeaker.
“That’s us,” Steve said as he stood.
“I’ll help you,” Tony said.
Steve liked having Tony at his side as he walked down the boards past tables with young families, retirees, or friends out for a night-on-the-town. He and Tony picked up the trays laden with boxes of clams and coleslaw, ears of corn, and towering stacks of onion rings.
“Just some appetizers,” Tony quipped as he set down the trays.
“Mmm, it all smells good to me,” said Natasha as she took her food.
“Here, Thor, this is how you eat clams,” Steve said. “Take the clam out of the shell, dip it in the water to wash off any sand, then dip it in butter.”
“Don’t attempt to open any clam that isn’t already open from the steam,” Tony added.
Thor followed the instructions and ate his first clam. “Aahh, it is delicious!” He happily dug into his portion of clams.
Steve ate some clams, then an ear of corn after buttering it, pleased at its sweetness. He ate an onion ring, the sharp-yet-sweet tang of the onion combining with its battered crispness.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the food. Bruce appeared almost Zen-like in his consumption.
“I can say this food is of the finest,” Thor declared.
“Coming from someone whose culture regards feasting as an art form, that’s high praise,” said Tony with a wink.
“Mmm,” Pepper said as her contribution.
“Number 76, your order is ready.”
Steve finished his corn. “I’ll get it, but I’ll need help.”
“I’ll go,” Tony said, crunching on an onion ring.
“I shall go, too,” said Thor as he polished off his clams.
Once in the lobster shack, Thor hesitated. “I am not supposed to gather attention.”
Steve smiled. “It’s all right, my friend. Anyone walking down a wharf with a four-pound lobster will attract attention.”
And it was true: Thor attracted attention as he walked down the wharf, proudly carrying the huge, bright-red lobster on its tray. Steve followed with his own large lobster and the ones that Pepper and Natasha had chosen. Tony carried the remainder.
The papers lining the trays showed how to eat a lobster, and everyone helped newbies Thor and Clint. Thor examined the large claw on his crustacean.
“I wish I could use my hammer to crack this claw.”
“That would be a sight indeed,” Tony smirked. “Use your nutcracker.”
Thor cracked the claw with a mighty snap. He extracted the meat from the broken shell and took a bite.
“Ah, the sweetest of meats.”
& & & & & &
Clint had to agree with Thor. The lobster was one of the best things he had ever tasted. Growing up, his diet had consisted of carny food, and after that, S.H.I.E.L.D. cafeteria fare. This seafood was tip-top as far as he was concerned. He was glad that Phil seemed to be enjoying his meal. With his appetite dulled by pain and medication, it was good to see him eat.
Water lapped up against the pilings in a soothing rhythm. Clint had never spent much time by the sea. He liked it. It seemed…what was that word?…bohemian, that was it.
Clint cracked the smaller claw and extracted the meat, enjoying the lush taste. He dipped his next piece in butter, letting it melt on his tongue. He was learning to savor moments like this instead of having to scrape for every scrap of food and hunt for shelter. S.H.I.E.L.D. had given him the opportunity to gain some self-respect.
He brushed his hand against Phil’s. Of course, the best thing about joining S.H.I.E.L.D. had been meeting Phil. Phil looked over at him quizzically and chuckled at Clint’s sappy expression.
Thor put down his nutcracker and declared, “My kingdom for a lobster!!!”
Everyone laughed and heartily agreed.
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Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter):
Continuity: The Avengers (2012)
Genres: Fluff, Humor, (A Touch Of Hurt/Comfort), Romance, Slice-Of-Life
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
General Summary: Battle-weary Avengers are sent on vacation by Nick Fury with the dictum…have fun or else! ;)
Chapter Summary: Thor and Clint enjoy their first lobsters on the wharf.
Date Of Completion: August 13, 2013
Date Of Posting:
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, Marvel and Paramount do, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1623
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Notes: Inspired by this prompt at avengerkink. The entire series can be found here.
III
THE LOBSTERMEN’S CO-OP
Buoys ring as the thrum
Of engines reverberate
Throughout the harbor.
Water laps against
The wooden pilings
As seagulls screech
And scavenge for food.
Steam rises
As lobsters and clams
Star in the sumptuous
Shore dinners.
Laughter and the crack
Of the nutcracker
Echo out
Over the harbor
As the sun
Begins to set.
Jeannette Star
"Lobster On The Wharf"
1968 C.E.
The smell of cooking seafood tickled Steve's noise as he and Tony walked down the ramp, the wooden boards creaking. There was a smattering of customers sitting at the weatherbeaten picnic tables and placing their orders at the fish and lobster shacks. A little girl pulled a can of Mountain Dew out of the vending machine tray.
Thor and Bruce were right behind them. Steve glanced back and could see the Asgardian's big smile. Behind his sunglasses, Steve guessed his friend's blue eyes were sparkling.
They had considered buying lobsters and cooking them at the cottage, but no one had any experience in doing so, so they decided to go to The Lobstermen's Co-Op in town. That would require disguises if they wanted to keep their anonymity, so Clint, Natasha and Steve applied their make-up skills to everyone.
Steve's blond hair was covered by a Patriots cap. He had figured it was the best way to blend in here in Maine country. He wore a loose, long-sleeved light-blue shirt over his jeans and scuffed sneakers. Subtle applications of make-up changed his features just enough to keep people from recognizing him.
Tony wore dark sunglasses and a fake beard to cover his famous goatee, expertly applied by Steve, who was grateful for his U.S.O. days and his crash course in make-up back then. He wore faded light-blue cargo pants and a dark-blue tank top to cover the arc reactor's light. A loose cotton shirt completed his outfit, along with a soft denim hat and ragged sneakers.
Thor's hair was pulled back into a ponytail and he was wore gold wire-rimmed glasses, which delighted him, especially after Pepper commented how sexy he looked in them. His clothing was similar, jeans and a lightweight shirt over a tank top, both different shades of green. He wore dark-weave leather sandals.
Bruce was happily schlumping along in a battered old fishing hat, jeans, work boots and a blue-checked shirt. His features had been subtly altered by Natasha's hand.
Natasha and Pepper were wearing wigs. Natasha's was a long, brown wig. She had chosen denim shorts, sandals, and a red tank top with a squash-colored shirt tied at the waist. Pepper's wig was a short blond one. She had gone with jeans, yellow sandals, yellow sleeveless shirt, thin gold necklace, and sunglasses.
Clint wore a red wig, glasses, goatee, and a brown shirt a size too large with jeans and sandals. Phil wore a Red Sox cap, tan shirt and matching cargo pants. His sneakers were almost brand-new.
Steve hoped that the disguises worked. He wanted to eat his shore dinner in peace.
He led the group over to an area where ears of corn were boiling. Everyone had agreed on lobsters so they bypassed the fish shack where they could order haddock and other delicious items.
“Seven orders of corn, please,” Steve said. “Can we get onion rings, too?”
“Sure thing,” said the teenaged girl behind the vats of boiling corn. “Would you like to order clams, too?”
“Yes, seven orders, please.”
“Okay. Now, anyone ordering from the fish shack or will everyone be getting lobsters?”
“All lobsters.”
“Cool. Go right on inside and you can pick your lobsters.” She smiled, her brown eyes sparkling as she prepared to wait on the next customers.
The interior of the lobster shack was cool and dark. Steve could hear the water in the tanks running and walked over to the large bin where dozens of lobsters swam or walked on the bottom. As soon as he saw one huge lobster, he pointed. “That one,” and the dark-haired attendant pulled it out.
“Four-pounder,” the man drawled, easily holding onto the lobster with a well-muscled arm.
“Perfect.” Steve smiled at Thor. “For you.”
Thor’s smile was pure sunshine. “Thank you.” He was keeping mostly silent because his pattern of speech was so distinctive. He pointed to one that was a little smaller but was still big. “That one is yours.”
The attendant plucked it out. “Three-pounder.”
“I’ll take it,” said Steve with a smile of his own.
The rest of the group chose smaller lobsters, mainly two-pounders, and Phil chose a pound-and-a-half, mindful of his stomach on heavy medication.
Once the orders were set they were given a number and could be called to pick up their food. The team went to find a table while Steve paid. It was a hefty bill but he and the rest of the team were living rent-free at the Tower, with food always provided, and he liked the idea of paying for Tony’s meal.
Tony was waiting for him at the soda machine, leaning casually against it with his arms crossed. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Tony helped him with the seven cans of soda. They walked down the wharf to a table at the end. The water sparkled with dapples of sunlight as it rippled under the pilings. Seagulls kept up an incessant screeching and chattering as they wheeled around the harbor in search of fish. Pleasure and working boats bobbed at anchor as lobster boats maneuvered in-and-out of the harbor.
“Freshest fish you can get,” Steve said as a boat pulled up to the dock and delivered dripping lobster pots crammed with crustaceans.
“This is great, Steve,” Bruce said. “My kind of place.”
Steve grinned at his relaxed friend and took a swig of Coke.
“This is so authentic!” Thor declared, looking around in satisfaction.
“Doesn’t get any more real than this,” Natasha said, brushing her leg against Pepper’s under the table.
“Number 76, your order is ready,” crackled a voice over the tinny loudspeaker.
“That’s us,” Steve said as he stood.
“I’ll help you,” Tony said.
Steve liked having Tony at his side as he walked down the boards past tables with young families, retirees, or friends out for a night-on-the-town. He and Tony picked up the trays laden with boxes of clams and coleslaw, ears of corn, and towering stacks of onion rings.
“Just some appetizers,” Tony quipped as he set down the trays.
“Mmm, it all smells good to me,” said Natasha as she took her food.
“Here, Thor, this is how you eat clams,” Steve said. “Take the clam out of the shell, dip it in the water to wash off any sand, then dip it in butter.”
“Don’t attempt to open any clam that isn’t already open from the steam,” Tony added.
Thor followed the instructions and ate his first clam. “Aahh, it is delicious!” He happily dug into his portion of clams.
Steve ate some clams, then an ear of corn after buttering it, pleased at its sweetness. He ate an onion ring, the sharp-yet-sweet tang of the onion combining with its battered crispness.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the food. Bruce appeared almost Zen-like in his consumption.
“I can say this food is of the finest,” Thor declared.
“Coming from someone whose culture regards feasting as an art form, that’s high praise,” said Tony with a wink.
“Mmm,” Pepper said as her contribution.
“Number 76, your order is ready.”
Steve finished his corn. “I’ll get it, but I’ll need help.”
“I’ll go,” Tony said, crunching on an onion ring.
“I shall go, too,” said Thor as he polished off his clams.
Once in the lobster shack, Thor hesitated. “I am not supposed to gather attention.”
Steve smiled. “It’s all right, my friend. Anyone walking down a wharf with a four-pound lobster will attract attention.”
And it was true: Thor attracted attention as he walked down the wharf, proudly carrying the huge, bright-red lobster on its tray. Steve followed with his own large lobster and the ones that Pepper and Natasha had chosen. Tony carried the remainder.
The papers lining the trays showed how to eat a lobster, and everyone helped newbies Thor and Clint. Thor examined the large claw on his crustacean.
“I wish I could use my hammer to crack this claw.”
“That would be a sight indeed,” Tony smirked. “Use your nutcracker.”
Thor cracked the claw with a mighty snap. He extracted the meat from the broken shell and took a bite.
“Ah, the sweetest of meats.”
& & & & & &
Clint had to agree with Thor. The lobster was one of the best things he had ever tasted. Growing up, his diet had consisted of carny food, and after that, S.H.I.E.L.D. cafeteria fare. This seafood was tip-top as far as he was concerned. He was glad that Phil seemed to be enjoying his meal. With his appetite dulled by pain and medication, it was good to see him eat.
Water lapped up against the pilings in a soothing rhythm. Clint had never spent much time by the sea. He liked it. It seemed…what was that word?…bohemian, that was it.
Clint cracked the smaller claw and extracted the meat, enjoying the lush taste. He dipped his next piece in butter, letting it melt on his tongue. He was learning to savor moments like this instead of having to scrape for every scrap of food and hunt for shelter. S.H.I.E.L.D. had given him the opportunity to gain some self-respect.
He brushed his hand against Phil’s. Of course, the best thing about joining S.H.I.E.L.D. had been meeting Phil. Phil looked over at him quizzically and chuckled at Clint’s sappy expression.
Thor put down his nutcracker and declared, “My kingdom for a lobster!!!”
Everyone laughed and heartily agreed.
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