Chapter 3

OooOOo

Steve's visits to the cafe continued pretty much the same for a week. He'd come in late and chat for hours with Luke and Darcy. This new Loki was a lot of fun to be around and shared the same disdain for modern technology and sometimes the same confusion. So who was to blame Steve for finding a kindred spirit. And besides he was working up to how best to introduce Thor wothout everything falling to pieces,so he figured he'd develop a good solid frienship first. Something to build on.

And Luke had decided early on that Steve was pretty fun to prank,but Rogers for his part was a good sport about it. The glueing the end of his milk shake straw shut, was pretty childish. Even Luke admitted it was not one of his better moments,but still had a decent giggle at the other man trying in vain to suck his milkshake through it before figuring it out.

Once, after Darcy had forced him into having the cafe's two tv's on the Harry Potter Marathon all day, Luke had secretly snatched Steve's phone, though to this day,Steve has no idea how he got it out of his pocket without him noticing and then also put it back in again. Before returning it however,he had changed all of Roger's contacts to Harry Potter characters. Steve had to send a mass text to everyone pleading for them to tell him them their names.

"Hey, My phone contact names all got changed to some character from this movie Harry Potter. Can you please tell me who this is?"

"Who does it say I am?"

"Proffessor Snape."

"Then quit being such a huge dissapointment like your father and turn to page 394."

It took him two days before he figured out it was Clint.

The best one though was the trick with the water.

Steve slid into his usual booth to find a glass of water upside down on the table in front of him. It sat so that the water was still full inside,but Roger's knew if he moved it,that a huge wet mess would ensue.

"Hey,"He asked as Luke approached the table,an all too wide grin painting his features. Steve knew that only meant trouble,but was curious enough to want to get to the punch line."What's this all about?"

"I will bet you," Luke began slyly "A week's worth of your usual dinner fare, that I can lift that glass off the table and the water will remain. In pretty much the same shape that it is now."

"No way," Steve scoffed. "Impossible. But...what do you get if you win?"

"You have to ask Shiella down at the coffee shop out on a date."

"Blond Shiella," Steve asked with a gulp. He knew exactly which woman Luke was talking about and while she was very,VERY attractive, did not seem like Steve's type at fact,Steve even found her a bit frightening on occassion.

"I know of no other Shiella," Luke replied,now leaning on the edge of the booth with eyebrows raised expectantly for Steve's answer.

"Why," Rogers stammered. "I mean,she'd probably never go out with me anyway."

"Well, it's either you or me friend," Luke returned. "And no offense,but you're not really my type." he added a sly wink that he knew would cause Steve to fidget uncomfortably...and it did.

"Very funny," Steve replied "But that has nothing to do with Shiella."

"Well sure it does," Luke explained with an elegant flair of his hand. "It is Friday night and according to Darcy's rules hereby decreed at 11:30 am just this very morning. And I quote 'Somebody is going to ask out somebody tonight or I'm going to get seriously,' and yes she emphasized seriously 'Pissed off.' Now she did not specify as to whom went out with whom,but did imply that it was to be somebody that she knew. That pretty much narrows down the field,don't you think?"

"I see your point," Steve turned his gaze back to the water glass. "But why would she even be concerned about our love lives."

"Boredom mostly," Luke replied offhandedly before adding "Merely a guess,Steve. But she does view hanging about in diners every day to be a somewhat poor representation of what she views as life."

"And she's an expert because...?"

"She's Darcy," Luke returned flatly. "So this," and he gestured to the water glass. "Is a much more interesting way of deciding than just flipping a coin,wouldn't you say?"

"Not really,"Roger's returned,now quite sceptical. "You've probably been practicing this all day."

"I assure I have never attempted such a feat in my life," Luke beamed,quickly adding, "That I am aware of ,deal or no deal."

"I guess I'm game," Steve answered finally, now extremely curious to see if Luke could pull off such an unthinkable trick.

Luke was now grinning widely as he fetched a stash of towels from behind the booth and began building a wall about a foot off of the glass all the way around. "Just in case," he winked again.

Steve suddenly did not wish to be seated when this trick went south,what Luke was proposing sounded impossible. Slowly he slid out of the booth and stepped back behind a bit to watch.

"Awww now Steve, that hurts my feelings," Luke chided playfully. "Where is your faith?"

"With God,which you are not," He replied,earning him another toothy grin as Luke positioned himself beside the table. His hand hovering over the glass.

"Wait,"Steve interrupted quickly. "What if Shiella won't go out with me?"

"I believe the rules stated you merely had to ask," Luke returned,his gaze focusing on the glass before him.

"Of course," Steve replied,hypnotized by the events about to unfold before him as well.

Luke wiggled his finger preperatorily before deftly snatching the glass,twisting his wrist quickly as he raised it into the air. Steve was dumbfounded. Luke now held the glass triumphantly before him while on the table, the water shimmered and held it's shape as if it were still contained. Steve couldn't help but let out a soft laugh of wonder as he glanced from Luke to the water form on the table.

"Huh,I don't believe it," he whispered as if his words would send the form crashing down and break whatever spell seemed to be holding it up. For an instant he began to wonder if some of Loki's former powers were returning."Magic."

Luke unceremoniously reached out with oneelegant finger and as he lightly touched the waters edge,the form dispersed,crashing down onto the table with a splosh.

"You Tube," Luke corrected almost in boredom. He grabbed the towels and quickly wiped up the water."Now,shall we." He asked,gesturing to the door.

"What,you mean now," Steve stammered. Luke moved beside him and taking him by the elbow,began steering him towards the door. "Shouldn't I prepare first and, I don't know...change." He wasn't dressed bad by any standards,but he felt a teeshirt and jeans was certainly not appropriate attire in which to court a woman in.

"Element of suprise,my dear Steve," Luke goaded as he pushed the door open and continued ushering Steve through. "And what exactly are you attempting to change into? I was not aware that Steve Rogers knew the magic of Potter."

"What,no...nothing.." Steve pulled his arm free and began walking towards the coffee shop of his own accord. Luke really could be as stubborn as Darcy at times. Or as Thor. "I just don't like courting dames wearing...this."

"Trust me," Luke replied encouragingly "Compared to her usual suiters,you'd be considered in a grossly higher , I'd refrain from calling her a dame to her face. She may take offense."

"Thanks," Steve replied. "I think."

They made it all the way to the coffee shop doors before Steve dug in his heels.

"Look, I don't want to do this,"He said almost desperately. "No offense or nothing,it's just that I don't really know the girl and it doesn't seem right to lead someone on when I have no intention of pursuing a romantic relationship with them."

"Renigging on your bet already," Luke questioned,one hand on his hip.

"No...I...," He tried to come up with a suitable alternative,but under Luke's scrutinizing one eyebrow raised stare, was finding it difficult. "I'll think of some other way to pay you back,I swear."

"No deal Rogers," Luke replied sternly as he pulled the door open and motioned for Steve to enter with his free hand. "A bet's a bet. Besides,it's not as if I can ask her out."

"Well why not?"

"Because she'd say,yes" Luke's reply caused Steve to chuckle and loose some of his own nervouseness."Don't worry Rogers. I'll do all the talking, Trust me. I've got your back."

"Well,this should atleast be entertaining," Steve sighed.

"Luke," Shiella greeted cheerfully from behind the counter as she spotted the two men entering the shop. "One Mocha Frappachino extra whip coming right up. And what can I get your friend?"Even as she asked,she completely ignored Steve and had eyes only for Luke.

"A date," Luke replied seriously,before breaking into his trademark grin causing the young girl to at first look taken aback at the prospect,then to blush thinking it was a jest. "No? How about the same then?"

"Oh Luke,You're such a kidder," She giggled and Steve hoped everyone missed his rather audible sigh of relief. "Two Mocha Frappachino's it is."

She handed the two drinks over the counter and Luke awarded her an extra wink to go with the grin before ushering Steve off to the patio.

"Whew,you really had me going there," Steve replied a bit shakily as he seated himself next to the taller man. "You never actually intended for me to go out with her,did you?"

"No," Luke replied still grinning as he took a long draw off his iced drink. "I would never willingly allow Shiella to date you. I like you too much to subject you to that drama ridden pallette. However, it was fun to see you squirm. And technically,we adhered to Darcy's rule."

"True," Steve admitted with a his first experimantal sip of the drink himself. He had never had a Mocha frappe whatever and after a taste,decided it was his new favorite. "But why do you lead her on? I mean you have no intentions of dating her yourself."

"Because Steve," Luke replied with an all too serious sigh. "It makes her feel like someone out there notices her."

Steve was quiet,not sure what to say. Luke was looking out at the passerby's on the sidewalk with an all to forlorn gaze. "That's really nice of you,Luke."

"Yeah,well," Luke snapped out of his gaze so quickly, Steve almost wondered if it had been there st all. "Got to live up to the name sake...Good Samaritan and all."

"I didn't know you read the bible," Steve asked a bit wide eyed at the discovery.

"Father Duffy read the bible," Luke corrected with a sly grin. "I merely pretended to listen."

The two chuckled and soon fell into conversing about the people passing by. Suddenly Steve rememberd he had an alterior motive to coming by tonight.

"Oh hey," he began conversationally. "I want you to meet this friend of mine. His name's Thor."

"Ah yes," Luke mused. "Darcy has mentioned the name a time or two. I was wondering when the Great God of Thunder was going to finally make an appearance."

Steve stared at him wide eyed and at a total loss for words.

"Norse mythology,Steve," Luke explained and if the word 'duh' was in his vocabulary,he surely would have used it. "Surely I am not the only one who researches people's names on the Google."

"No,no," Steve chuckled in relief. "Of course not."

"Good," Luke looked at him quizzically. "Because you looked at me as if I were implying the guy could actually launch lightening bolts out of his ass."

"Haha,no, of course not," He genuinely laughed at the mental image that produced. "Just threw me off guard that Darcy had told you about him."

"Hardly,she gave me a name an mentioned he was a bit weird." Luke supplied easily. "But by Darcy's standards everyone's a bit weird...except for me. I'm prissy."

Rogers and Luke both chuckled easily at the well known jibe.

"Well, he's not from around here," Steve continued,trying to explain Thor as best he could.

"I believe that's a given."

"And where he's from,they're a bit...touchy," He knew Thor would not hold back his enthusiasm at seeing his brother, so tried to explain everything that might transpire as being normal.

"Touchy a in short tempered?" Luke asked curiously.

"No," Steve corrected. "Touchy as in he can't keep his hands off of other people he knows or likes. In a completely,non sexual way." he quickly added.

"Of course," Luke rolled his eyes at the implication.

"See,where he's from, he views everyone as...family...yeah," Now Roger's was on a roll. "He likes to hug and throw an arm around you. But he's a really big guy. And he doesn't know that's not the way people act."

"Well why not?" Luke asked with a shrug.

"Because even though we explain it to him,he still does it."

"No,not that," Luke shook his head,shaking his short dark curls as he did. "Why do people not treat their friends as family?"

"You know," Steve smiled,never really viewing Thor's enthusiasm in such light before. "I don't know. But, he also likes to call people brother,even though they're not related."

Steve really didn't like lying,but was actually pleased with himself as he felt he had covered all the bases on what might transpire at their meeting.

"Just remind him,it's Luke not Loki," Luke added then paused thoughtfully. "Although, the God of mischief does seem to suit me better than Good Semaritan,don't you think."

"Uh,yeah," Steve replied a bit unsure how to react. Then he remembered Luke had looked up Thor on Google,so must have come across references on his family as well. "But the 'God' title might just go to your head."

Luke just tipped his head and returned to sipping his drink and watching the people passing by.

OoooOOo

Yes the water glass trick can actually be viewed on YouTube and while I can not do it myself,thought it looked like something Loki could pull off no problem.