It was a mix of worry for the future and reluctance to let go of the present. Aetheris noticed her gloomy mood. He rubbed her soft hand and said,"Still upset about what just happened? Tomorrow I'll have Peter give you a proper apology. Once everything is cleared up, it'll be fine."
Nova shook her head, pouted, and said,"I'm not that petty. It's just what you said about aliens invading Earth. In my mind, none of them look good. They're either all claws and fangs or baring their teeth in grotesque ways. Just thinking about it makes me sick."
Aetheris was speechless. Why did girls always focus on such odd things? Shouldn't she be worried about whether aliens would kill people, conquer Earth, or build colonies?
Why was her concern whether they looked good? What, if a handsome alien came to invade, would she obediently spread her legs?
Well, maybe. In Alien, the female lead couldn't handle facing something shaped like a demonic skull. But when angels descended or Thor came to Earth, crowds of women rushed toward them.
Holding the wheel, Aetheris's mind wandered. He thought: if Thanos didn't look like a blockhead with purple skin, but instead like the Elven King from The Lord of the Rings, wouldn't his odds of success have skyrocketed? But if Thanos were devastatingly handsome, when he went to conquer other planets, would alien women raid him instead? If they bore him children, could he really bear to snap his fingers and wipe them all out?
In Infinity War, even sacrificing his adopted daughter Gamora had nearly broken him. If they were his own children, he probably wouldn't have been able to kill a single one.
Ha! Look at this genius brain of mine, Aetheris thought smugly, no worse than that primitive Tony Stark. A grin tugged at his lips.
Nova had been waiting for some comforting words from him, but when she turned her head, she saw that aside from steering, he was smiling one moment and frowning the next, clearly lost in some far-off fantasy.
She poked his arm with her finger. Only then did Aetheris snap back to reality, looking at Nova in surprise."What did you just say? I didn't catch that."
The car soon pulled up to her apartment. He didn't accept her invitation to come upstairs, instead driving back into the ocean of traffic. It wasn't that he didn't want to join her for some fun, but the looming power of censorship was too strong, he feared he'd be erased before Thanos ever arrived.
Aetheris didn't return to his villa. He had a date tonight.
And the one who invited him was a woman with a cold face but a warm heart.
Brooklyn, New York. A barbecue joint called Northeast Family Barbecue.
The place was run by a family from Maine, which explained the name.
The first time Aetheris had come here, he thought he'd stumbled across some Northeastern Chinese after traveling across worlds. After all, besides lamb skewers, the only other barbecue worth mentioning in China had come from the Northeast.
In truth, the family might really have studied there. Their barbecue tasted surprisingly authentic. Aetheris often brought Happy and Rhodey here, and even Spider-Man and Ethan had joined him for late-night meals after overtime.
When he arrived, Hill wasn't there yet. Aetheris waved at the owner, an Algonquin Indian from Maine.
Maine, in the northeastern corner of the United States, belongs to New England. To the southwest it borders New Hampshire, to the north and east Canada, and to the south the Atlantic Ocean. With nearly 90,000 square kilometers of land but only about a million people, it's sparsely populated. The terrain is diverse: the Appalachian Mountains cut across, glaciers scar the plateau, and the coast is marked by peninsulas and fjords.
Maine is rich in fisheries, especially lobsters. With its cold climate and abundant resources, food culture there thrives.
Just as China's Northeast was known for fur, deer antlers, and herbal medicines, Maine too had its own specialties.
The Native American auntie running the place set down a menu with a smile."Here you are, brother. Glad to serve you. What would you like?"
The first time Aetheris had met her, with her brown skin and high nose bridge, he might have mistaken her for someone from back home if not for her thickly accented English.
Her nose had that distinct Native American shape tall, long, with a slight hook, almost reminiscent of Andy Lau.
It was a true family-run spot. The husband and wife both worked there, and their eighteen-year-old daughter, still in high school in Brooklyn, helped out sometimes too.
"Sister Mary, give me ten skewers of kidneys, four oysters, and some wings. Add whatever else you think works."
He ticked off a few items and handed the menu back.
She smiled."Mr. Stark, how many people?"
"Two."
"Want something to drink? Deadly? Dark beer? Brave the World?"
She listed off the beers. Aetheris picked a window seat and said,"Let's wait. My friend hasn't arrived yet."
She nodded and went off to prepare.
The restaurant wasn't crowded yet rush hour was still clogging the streets.
"Ding..."
Aetheris's phone buzzed. A message from Hill, asking his exact location.
Not long after he replied, a tall, slender figure walked in. Hill.
"Ms. Hill, over here!"
He waved. She walked quickly over, greeted him, and pulled napkins from the table to wipe the bench before sitting.
"Mr. Stark, you don't need to scrimp for me. My salary isn't much, but I can still pay for a proper meal. Shouldn't we go somewhere nicer?"
Even after several napkins, the stains still showed, and Hill frowned slightly.
She was a refined woman, with just enough fastidiousness to make the sight of greasy napkins uncomfortable.
The restaurant wasn't large, only a dozen tables or so, but judging by the worn furniture, business was clearly thriving. Each stool had been polished smooth by constant use.
(End of Chapter)
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