The Avengers

It's a rare day of quiet at the Avengers Tower in New York The big threats are handled (for now), the world is safe, and Nick Fury hasn't called in three weeks.

The main hall is surprisingly peaceful.

Tony Stark is sprawled on a plush, ridiculously expensive couch, wearing sunglasses indoors and flipping through schematics for a new coffee machine with Rhodey (War Machine), who's trying to keep his friend from turning it into a missile launcher.

Across the room, Captain America (Steve Rogers) is in his element, trying (and failing) to teach Thor how to use a smart TV remote. Thor, meanwhile, is mostly confused by the "magic rectangle" and is attempting to lift the coffee table to prove its worthiness.

Hulk (Bruce Banner) is tucked away in his lab, happily working on a new kind of regenerative foam, occasionally humming along to a classical music piece.

Near the training mats, Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) and Hawkeye (Clint Barton) are engaged in a quiet, competitive game of chess—mostly to keep their hands busy, as the calm makes them both jumpy.

A playful argument is heating up by the snack machine: Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) is trying to convince Vision to try a chocolate chip cookie, explaining that synthezoids can, in fact, enjoy processed sugar.

Suddenly, a whoosh and a thump announce the arrival of Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers), landing by the windows with a grin. She's just brought back a dozen bagels from an impossible distance.

A small, buzzing argument erupts when Ant-Man (Scott Lang), currently shrunken down, tries to steal a mini-pretzel from the table, only to be spotted by Spider-Man (Peter Parker), who swings down from the rafters and gently webs the pretzel out of the air.

Falcon (Sam Wilson) walks in, fresh from a long run, surveying the whole chaotic, happy scene with an exasperated but fond shake of his head. "Alright," he calls out, clapping his hands together. "Who wants to start the movie marathon? And Tony, put the schematics away!"

The team slowly turns, smiles beginning to spread. It's a perfect, well-earned break.