The veteran members of the team, well aware of how rare such extravagant treatment was for field agents of their rank, dropped all pretence of politeness. They ate with a ferocity that bordered on the primal, consuming mountain-sized portions of exotic meats and nectar-infused grains. By the time they finished, more than one superhero was leaning back with a satisfied groan and a noticeable belly.
As the team dispersed to their respective floors, Thomas and Lucy found their rooms situated directly across from one another in a quiet, plush corridor. Lucy stopped at her door, the flickering light of the wall-sconces casting soft shadows across her face. She looked deeply into Thomas's eyes, her expression stripped of its usual playful snark.
"Thanks for helping me back then," she said, her voice dropping into a register of immense gratitude and raw honesty. "I mean it, Thomas."
