That made Gemma pause, and she raised an eyebrow at Kenzie.

"Come on, him too," she said.

But he's so cute when he's sleeping. Kenzie didn't uncurl just yet. Even with her other bonded, she still kind of favored Bucky, to a degree. Although Clint was very fun and she had an inkling that she and Tony were going to be having some fun Science discussions now.

"Yes, we're all aware that he's got a pretty face," Gemma teased. "Come on, let him go."

Kenzie huffed but uncurled, grumbling and muttering to herself. Although she was cheered by the thought that she'd go for an actual flight today.

Gemma rolled her eyes a little at the grumbling.

"Mr. Cormick invited us all for dinner tonight," she commented to the dragon. "He said he would set aside a couple of cows for you."

Kenzie hummed at that, pleased. I'll hunt later, or tomorrow, she said. If you want to wake them, you should. I need to get up in a few minutes.

Gemma nodded and went around to wake up the various assassins and scientists draped over Kenzie. She was especially careful around Natasha and Bucky, making sure to wake them gently, just in case.

Natasha woke when Clint did, blinking a few times and looking at Gemma.

"'Bout time," Steve muttered with a little grin when he saw everyone finally stirring and getting up. He didn't tease anyone yet though.

Tony woke up almost in stages, becoming more and more aware and grumbling a bit about being woken up. As much as he avoided sleep, most of the time, he hated being woken up when the sleep was good. And, wow, wait a second, he'd slept all night without a single nightmare, how the hell had that happened?

Kenzie didn't move until everyone else had, and then she got up and shook herself. A few more loose scales fell out, and she grumbled a bit.

I hate shedding.

Gemma went around and gathered the shed scales. She would definitely find uses for them later.

"Interesting," Bruce murmured, picking one up himself. "I would have thought any sort of shedding would happen similar to smaller reptiles, as patches or full shed-skins."

Too vulnerable that way, Kenzie said, trusting Tony or Gemma would relay for her. It does happen perhaps once a century when a dragon has grown enough to do a full shed, but only so often. It is... difficult to find a truly safe place to survive a full shed.

"How so?" Bruce asked, intrigued. "I mean, I think I understand the logistics involved, a big enough space, enough food, things like that, but you make it sound like something else entirely."

When scales shed, they leave a soft spot, Kenzie said, hunkering down a bit and curling her tail around her feet. A full shed leaves one vulnerable to attack. You cannot shift, or ignore a full shed, either. You are stuck for a few weeks while all the scales regrow, and in that time, if anyone finds you, you are easy to kill. Her wings rustled uneasily.

Bruce considered that for a moment.

"I suppose that makes sense," he said, nodding. Barnes moved a bit closer to Kenzie, protectively.

Fortunately I don't have to worry about that for a little longer yet, Kenzie said. She did give Bucky a bit of a fond look, because really, he was just being so cute, all defensive like that.

Steve hid his smile at Bucky's reaction.

"Besides," Gemma commented, "I'll be around to help when it happens."

"That's awesome," Clint said, grabbing a scale to look at it. "And I can see these glittering all over the place, how do you do that?"

Gold, Kenzie said. The gold is actually part of the scales, it helps to keep them strong. You have no idea how much gold I go through when I do a full shed.

"Wait, what?" Steve blinked, because that needed explanation. He looked at Gemma for translation.

Gemma failed to keep a straight face as she translated for Kenzie.

"Wait, you go through gold?" Tony demanded. "How? What do you mean? Why gold?"

Kenzie huffed. Gold is the strongest metal that can integrate safely with my scales, she explained. So I have to ingest gold every so often. The gold helps with defense, and also can be used to distract opponents, as well as wayward people.

"So, what?" Steve asked. "You just munch on gold?"

I have a salt shaker full at home. If I need to, I have gold coins that aren't half-bad.

"Have you tried platinum?" Tony asked, mind already spinning again. "Or an alloy?"

Never had platinum. Silver is tasty but not as effective. Alloys, depending on the composition, don't agree with me. Kenzie paused for a moment. I have to avoid flammable ones now.

Tony blinked at that, and then grinned.

"I bet," he said. "Wonder if my special alloy would work... It's got gold in it."

I would not be averse to trying, Kenzie said. When we return to the city. For now, however, I believe I wish to fly for a while.

"And I think that's my cue to find something else to do," Steve muttered to Gemma with a grin.

Gemma couldn't help but smile a bit at that.

"Flying with Kenzie is different than anything else," she pointed out to him.

Clint perked up when he heard the word "flying".

"Can I come?" he asked shamelessly.