Okay, so we are having another party, but more private. Is this Age of Ultron or what? LOL Well, almost. It is a party, but no Ultron… yet. I wanted to show something fun and I found myself laughing at what was happening!
Differences mentioned in this chapter: A small battle was added for the fun of it.
TW: Mention of torture
The Avengers sat laughing with Sif and the Warriors Three. Ariana had changed her staff into a beautiful hair stick and put her hair up so she could wear normal clothes. She sat next to Loki as she listened to Bucky about how he was healed, and they compared stories.
"I have to say, sis," said Bucky, "your time seemed more… interesting."
"You prefer quiet," Ariana said. "I'm a Stark. Parties come with the territory. But I did have a quiet place all my own too. I needed it to learn who I was. And I found her again."
Rhodey sat and said, "Great, so the Rebel is back?"
"Who is this Rebel?" asked Thor.
"Me," laughed Ariana. "I was always the one instigating the trouble. Speaking of, Thor, did you bring it? For us super soldiers?"
"I always carry some."
"I'm not surprised. But, just in case, Volstagg brought some too."
Thor pulled out a flask, while Volstagg brought a bigger one. They each put a little in each drink.
"Now, what tale should I tell?" Volstagg asked.
"Oh, the Battle of Harokin is my favorite," said Ariana.
"That one again, darling?" Loki asked.
"What? Thor gets hit in the face with a broad sword! I like how Volstagg describes it! It's different every time!"
Loki smiled, "What about my battles?"
"I know them from you, and plan on writing your memoirs."
"What?"
"Are you joking? You are one of the best battle strategists I know! Of course, I plan on showing off your genius!"
"Did you drink Asgardian ale by itself?"
"Okay, so I may have brought a whole bottle." She pulled out the bottle she had hidden. "I developed a taste for it."
Thor laughed and said, "The last time we didn't water it down for you, sister, we had to pull you from the rafters of the dining hall."
"The time before that, we had to remove livestock from the whole of the second floor of the palace," chimed in Fandral.
"And before that, every piece of laundry that had been left out overnight covered the throne room," said Sif.
"Where was I for all of this?" asked Loki, trying not to laugh.
"As I recall, you gave her the ideas," said Hogan.
"Before passing out in your room," said Volstagg, laughing, "leaving the rest of us to deal with the aftermath. She did take those pranks further if I'm correct. Not only was she in the rafters, but so were a number of horses. And the reason for the chaos on the second floor was so she could raid the larder in the kitchens to bake a 'special' cake for Odin. Lastly, the laundry was to 'turn down the brightness' of the throne room because the early morning light was hurting her eyes and she tried to move the throne because it didn't fit her 'decorations'."
The room erupted into laughter as Ariana, also laughing, said, "I don't remember any of that! Just shows you that was a hell of a party. How long did it last, anyway? A week?"
"Two weeks, milady," answered Fandral.
"And that was at the end of the week," said Sif.
Volstagg raised his drink as he continued, "I hadn't expected a mortal to keep up with an Asgardian, but you had been with us for what? Three months?"
"Three and a half," said Hogan. "You challenged her to a drinking game every chance you got."
"You were so hungover every time, you let me win our mock battles in training," Ariana said.
"Yet, you still learned," Volstagg defended.
"Only because I was her official tutor," Sif pointed out.
"And, might I add, the recent Squirmish at Kollsvik was fun," said Ariana. "My first Asgardian battle, and it lasted what? An hour?"
"We thought something small would be best for your first time," said Thor.
"You took my girlfriend to a battle when she was supposed to be healing?" asked Loki, upset.
"To be honest, I bet Thor I couldn't do something and I did," Ariana replied, trying to placate Loki.
"I still say you didn't really pick up Mjollnir."
"I did too, and my winnings was my first Asgardian battle."
"I bet you can't do it again."
"Oh, I'm placing money on that," said Natasha.
"She's too much of a prankster to be able to pick it up," said Rhodey.
"I'd be an idiot to not back up my daughter," said Tony.
"I'm sticking with Ari," said Bucky.
"Ari, no question," said Steve.
"No way," said Clint. "If you have to be worthy, Ari doesn't count."
"The Warriors Three are with the lady," said Fandral.
"I will stand by Thor," said Sif.
"What of you, Loki?" Volstagg asked.
"Knowing her, she's got some mischief planned, so I lose either way, so I'll sit back and watch," replied Loki. "I'll side with the winner."
"What's the prize?" asked Hogan.
"Losers jump in the pool naked," said Ariana.
"No," everyone said.
"Fine, then, cut-off time is immediate," she said. "Added pressure for me. Alright, sparkles. Be prepared to lose again."
Thor placed Mjollnir on the table. Ariana took hold with one hand and… Loki smiled, shaking his head. Her illusions were almost as good as his. He could see she was well drunk from a few sips from the bottle from Asgard, so he had half a mind to remove the illusion. But the look on Thor's face was priceless. Everyone that lost looked upset. Ariana passed out shots to everyone with one hand of pure ale so that every mortal was good and drunk. He knew then it was safe and removed the illusion.
"I knew it!" Thor said.
"Loki!" Ariana whined.
"It's bed for you, my love," he said. "I believe you have had your fun."
"We have barely begun." Ariana's words were slurred. "Don't spoil the fun."
"I have some suits we can all wear," Tony volunteered.
"No!" said Rhodey before he could take his victory shot.
"Uncle Rhodey," Ariana whined, "please."
"No, troublemaker. The last thing we need is a bunch of drunk Iron Man suits flying around the city."
"It'll be fun."
"No!"
"Well, I'll say the losers can drink," said Thor. "It's more fun with everyone."
Everyone agreed and spent the next few hours. Clint suggested that the others try to pick up Mjollnir. He watched everyone, laughing with them.
"Seems there's no one worthy other than Captain Thunderpants," said Ariana. "And me through illusion."
Thor laughed, but then thought of something and asked, "Sister, how many of our bets did you use that trick on?"
She sat there a moment before Thor jumped up and Ariana took off, laughing. Loki chuckled, shaking his head.
Thor managed to catch her and fling her over his shoulder, making her shout, "Sparkles, you gullible oaf! Put me down!"
"Every damn bet, sister?" he accused as he walked towards the pool. "Really? You owe me!"
"Don't you dare! This is a designer dress!" She began to panic the closer they got. "Thor, I swear to God, put me down! Do not throw me into the pool!"
Thor ignored her and threw her into the pool. However, she refused to let go, and Thor followed her into the water. Everyone ran out to the pool. Loki looked on, waiting on them to come up for air. Thor broke the surface, gasping for air. Before anyone could help him out, he noticed Ariana wasn't with him and he went back down. Loki jumped in then, fear putting adrenaline in his veins.
The brothers found her at the bottom, her eyes closed. Loki and Thor reached her at the same time. They pulled her to the surface and the edge of the pool. Bruce began working on her, performing CPR. Please, my love, Loki begged. Open your eyes.
She coughed and expelled water from her lungs. Tony was there with Loki. They helped her sit up. Ariana clung to Loki, shaking from cold and fear.
"It's okay, Ari," Tony said. "Don't look at the water."
"Stark, what's wrong with her?" Loki asked. "Why is she so afraid?"
"You mean beyond the waterboarding HYDRA subjected her to?" Bucky asked.
"That would add to her fear," said Tony, "but that's not the only reason. When she was eleven, we had gone to the beach. She was swept out to sea. She was out there for hours as rescuers tried to reach her. A large wave knocked her off her inner tube. She got caught in some seaweed and nearly drowned. Since then, she has refused to go near deep water or learn how to swim." Tony sat back, looking like he was fighting back his own emotions. "I almost lost her that day. I could have…"
"I think the party's officially over," said Rhodey. "Let's get everyone in a room."
"I'll stay with Ariana," said Loki. "Fandral, Hogan, and Volstagg can have my room."
"Sif can bunk with me," said Nat.
"Maybe Ari should have another girl in her room," suggested Steve.
Ariana clung harder to Loki, looking up at him with pleading eyes. He smiled and picked her up.
"I have been her healer for a year, Captain," Loki said. "I will perform a healing session before retiring."
Thor said, "She is in good hands. She is Loki's consort, after all."
"I'm still not comfortable with it," Steve said. "But let's all go to bed. It's been an eventful night."
They all scattered, but Steve watched Loki leave with Ariana. Bucky stayed behind, standing next to Steve in the hall.
"What's your deal?" Bucky asked.
"What?" Steve questioned in return.
"You've been looking at her like you like her. Let her be happy."
Steve got upset. "She's clinging to her first love like a puppy, Buck! And you expect me to be okay with that?"
"You didn't fight for your relationship. She realized what she was doing. I know the story. And it wasn't you she screamed for when HYDRA had her. It was always him. She looks like Peggy. I get it. But get over it."
"I love her, Buck! That won't stop!"
"It's too late! Move on! She's happy and I won't let you mess that up for her! After everything, she doesn't need someone trying to use her as a substitute pining for her! You only think you love her! Now that she's with Loki, you want her back! That's not love, Steve! It's jealousy mixed with Asgardian ale!"
"How do you know what I feel?"
"Sober up. We'll discuss this nonsense when you have a clearer head. Because I know what she feels, and she loves him."
Bucky shoved past Steve. Steve stared after his best friend. He sighed and went to his room, his mind playing over the conversation, but it only served to make him angrier.