Once the damped droplet of Loki's appearance had dried Thor had continued on the tour, slightly quicker than intended, and soon the avengers had all been shown to their massive rooms. Thor had explained that today the team could get acquainted and maybe go over special training methods, but tomorrow the real fun would begin.
Steve was really enthusiastic about the approaching week, especially since there was no one he and Natasha had to hide from in Asgard.
Rogers was lying down on his and Nat's giant bed, as Tasha unpacked her suitcase, staring at the magnificent treasure coloured furniture that lined the walls. A mirror covered the wall before them, the wall to the left of the bed had a walk in closet - with all Asgardian garments which Thor had strictly instructed that the team must wear -as well as a dresser larger than Stark's dining room table; filled with envy green jewels, passionate red diamonds and a rainbow of coloured crystals.
Natasha's joy was bursting at the seams.
"It's sooo beautiful here!" Nat slowly walked to the last thing in their room, and quite frankly the most radiant; on the left of their huge bed was a pair of glass doors which lead out onto a balcony overlooking the azure ocean, overlapping the distant beach. Steve hastily followed her, his arms wrapping around her from behind. He blew kisses on the crust of her neck, Natasha shivered as Steve said between kisses "Luckily the most beautiful treasure here will be coming home with me." Steve beamed as Natasha Romanoff did a very unlike Natasha Romanoff thing, she giggled. Something only Steve had witnessed, he chuckled at the thought God forbid anybody learn that the Black Widow could do something as endearing as that!
With desire burning a fire in her veins, Nat spun around in his arms. Her lips finding his in another passionate, jaw stopping breathe holding, skin boiling caress. The bird whistle flew out of nowhere and cracked a line between the cowering bodies. Blood flew to Romanoff's cheeks; she pulled away and spun around, finally her dagger eyes found the limping with laughter silhouette of Clint Barton on a neighbouring balcony.
"Well...this just got less romantic." Rogers concluded, his hands fiddling with his pockets. Widow glared at a spine crackling grin on birdboy's face as he dodged her laser vision, finally he walked back in his room, giving them a sliver of privacy.
Natasha stomped inside, and Steve quickly followed behind her. His sensitive brush of her arm pulled her from the darkening thoughts of strangling Clint. "I know what will cheer you up!" Lifting Natasha easily, in his strong arms Steve walked towards the dauntingly awesome walk in wardrobe.
"So I said to the rude intruder, you better not touch that or..." Stark was openly interrupted by Natasha, when her hand rested on his shoulder, grabbing a glass of a yellow sparkling liquid. "Basically Stark ends up getting his ass kicked by moi!" Stark forged laughter as the crowding Asgardians slammed their theists into the table, howling loudly like wild animals as Natasha retold the story.
All the avengers and many Asgardians were in the grand dining room, getting ready for the feast. All the Midgardians had changed into Asgardian garments, looking just as beautiful as the Kings and Queens and Gods of the gorgeous realm. Romanoff was wearing a envy green gown which danced to her toes, stretching her petite figure and highlighting her curves. The silk dress was complemented with the brightest accessory a soul could get lost in, her verdant orbs. She wore a silver simple necklace around her neck and a similar selection of armour to Sif's. It wasn't full armour, but it would definitely protect her in a unexpected battle, that is if Steve hadn't already neutralised any opposable threat to her.
Steve was looking angelic as always, draped in a set of armour similar to Thor's except his cape - Rogers' had a cape, Romanoff couldn't get over that! - Blue, matching his eyes. The rest of the avengers were assembled in their own choices for the evening. Stark, looking handsome and lean in golden armour, Barton was as usual masking the art of appearing rough and yet elegant, Banner looked bookishly cute in his grassy green garment as he tried to melt into the wall.
Suddenly Thor entered the dining room with a couple people following him, one of them Heimdall, Barton made his move. "Who are they?" Natasha heard herself ask Hogun, at the silence the presence the new comers caused. Hogun laughed before saying "Cousins, of cousins of cousins. A distant relation that Thor wished didn't exist." Sif growled as she joined in on the conversation, eyeing up the leader of the new gang. "They're not the most trustworthy, and despite their lake of relation they still managed to inherit unique powers, you see that one at the back?" Nat nodded, suddenly aware of her teammates beside her, Sif pointed to the slight girl at the back. She had long, slick, black hair which was lost in the darkness of her dress. Making her look even skinnier than she was, there was no doubt about it, she was beautiful, but almost so that it was sickly. A tad bittersweet.
Sif continued to speak "Her name is Arora, she can control light. Blind her opponents and slit their throats whilst they stumble around, trying to adjust to the darkness, she can also see in the dark and travel through shadows." Barton gulped "Gee, really, cos she looks sweet as pie." Sif remained serious "She's anything but, luckily she doesn't socialize. You won't encounter her during your stay. They're just passing through and shall be gone by the full moon." The day after tomorrow.
Fandral then proceeded to explaining the second new guest. He was short, plump and had hair like honey. The exact opposite to his sister. "His name is Mirror, he can cause extreme hallucinations, however he hardly uses his gifts. Only in extreme cases, he's actually a very sweet boy. A bit mischievous but nothing you guys won't be able to handle." Steve's protective hand rested on Natasha's back and she leaned against him. "What makes you think we can handle mischief?" Fandral pointed at Stark and mouthed the name "Heimdall."
Finally the last of the guests was introduced, Volstagg stepping forward and carefully whispered. "The third is Henderson. He's...their older brother and leader." The man Volstagg pointed to was incredibly tall, he towered over Steve and was wider than Thor. He was covered in muscle that was so close to ripping off the mass amounts of silver armour wrapped around his torso as tightly as skin. Like his sister, his hair was dark, but curly like his brothers'. It was short and bouncy, all Nat needed was one look to know that anyone of those curls could whip out and tangle a swooning maiden off her feet and into his enormous arms. All the men of the team took one step forward, feeling slightly intimidated by the large God. Steve's hand curled around Natasha's back a little tighter.
"What's his gift?" Nat asked whilst the boys eyed up their soon to be opponent. Sif continued to growl as Hogun whispered, a lot quieter than Volstagg, "He can...intensify emotions." The bewildered glances caused Sif to snap. "Say if you're in a battle, and your enemy is taunting you. Unless you're 100% sure you're doing the right thing or that confident in your abilities...you will back down. All he needs is a sliver of doubt and suddenly he opens a pit and you fall right into it, there's nothing you can do. You're trapped in a void of ambiguity and fear, there's no point fighting it. You'll just weaken yourself, he'll let you go. Once he's moved onto the next victim." The surrounding group watched Sif with sad eyes, everybody swallowed the lump rising in their throats in unison.
"You speak with experience?" Barton was cautious, after years of dealing with Romanoff; he knew how to approve a hurting hero. Sif stiffened before strutting away. "None of which I wish to share, but let's just say if it weren't for Thor...Henderson would have consumed me completely in that self-hating ibis. I wish none of that upon any of you." The warrior looked at them all in turn. "Stay away from him."
In the silence that followed Volstagg continued to explain. "Any emotion you're feeling, whether it be anger, love, lust, hatred, sadness. It will just grow until it's eaten you whole. Not to mention his physical strength or appearance...Henderson leads countless dames on exhausting trails until eventually their hearts give out." Volstagg, Fandral and Hogun all stared at Natasha before speaking in unison "Stay away from him." Natasha was grateful for their concern but immediately pushed away the apprehensions. "Don't worry about me boys; I've got my fellow right here." Fandral and Volstagg attempted smiles which were transparently false whilst Hogun just ushered a silent prayer.
Out of the silence a large hackle pounded against Volstagg's back, making the large warrior quiver with the pressure. The narrowing eyes of the crowd circled round until they found the giant, Henderson. Natasha had to admit, as much as she hated to, he was attractive. There was definitely no instant feeling; Natasha just knew he was considered good looking in some eyes.
Not hers, not when she had her Steve, and most likely not even when she didn't.
Drastically Volstagg staggered away, just out of Henderson's reach. "Thor aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?" The avengers glanced at their fellow teammate before Thor reluctantly stepped up. "Cousin Henderson, these are my dearest friends; Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Natasha Romanoff, Steve Rogers and Clint Barton. My friends, this is Henderson, his sister Arora and his younger brother Mirror." Natasha regarded the cousins with an attempt at less hostility, but wasn't sure how it turned out. In the awkward silence that unfolded nobody knew where to look, one thing was certain they knew where not to look; Henderson was staring at Natasha for a few more seconds. Suddenly Mirror scuttled forwards like a crab, his hand outstretched to Romanoff. She stared at him like he was about to do the pull my finger joke.
Everybody in the room held their breath before Black Widow's fingers circled around Mirror's, nothing happened.
A breath of pleasure passed between the gang before it was rudely knocked aside by Loki. "Brother, you didn't tell me our Cousins were here!" Loki swept Arora into a bear grip hug that Natasha could have sworn, with her skeletal structure, should have crushed her bones. Thor began to un-grind his teeth. "I didn't know they were until Heimdall, informed me of their arrival minutes ago." Loki tutted the guard, "Have we been spending too much time stalking a cursed prisoner and not enough time watching the gates, father won't be happy." If he expected the guard to rise to the debate he was thoroughly disappointed, Heimdall calmly spoke. "Arora escorted them by shadow, it is near to impossible for anyone to see through her darkness with seconds to spear. Let alone minutes, but I gathered Thor before their untimely arrival with moments to spear."
Odin's presence was like a flame in a stack of hay. "He has severed his King well, as he will continue to do. Sadly that's not what I can say for my own son." Loki didn't miss a beat "Father, such kind words of wisdom and love." Odin continued as if he hadn't been interrupted. "Now enough with all this nonsense and let the feast begin!"