"So, how come you can go around the country road tripping on your bike, that I bought mind you, and not bring us souvenirs?" Tony asks with a petulant frown on his brow.
"I kinda think souvenirs are a waste of money." Steve answers honestly, if a little apologetic, helmet on the kitchen counter, fresh off his motorcycle.
"But you have money to spend, that's what it's for." The engineer whines dramatically.
"Tony not everyone has lived all their lives throwing away money like you, some people have to think of the future. It's integrated in our system." Bruce chimes in with a gentle voice and a little grin. He's standing beside Steve looking at the several postcards the man had brought back from his trip.
"And I can perfectly understand that," Tony assures them. "But why not take advantage of the money if you have it, and you do have it. There are no financial problems to be thinking about at this time! Live a little, enjoy it while you can!" He gestures grandly around at nothing at all.
The conversation goes on as all of them present their own point of view on the subject, lounging as they are around the white marble top of the bar beside the kitchen.
Natasha takes a look at Thor, who's happily munching on a bowl of cashew nuts as he enjoys the light bickering like it was a soccer match. She takes her chance and walks around the bar to takes the empty stool next to him.
Thor offers her a slight nod of a greeting and pushes the bowl between them.
"So," she says quietly, not willing to disrupt the discussion and bring attention to the two of them "when are we doing this?" she pops a cashew into her mouth and looks at him.
Thor grins at her, pleased.
"Whenever you have the time." He answers just as quietly. They don't whisper though, that would be too suspicious and Tony has the longest nose when it comes to other people's business.
"I'm not doing anything tonight." Natasha shrugs as she looks at Clint, who's finally sided with Tony on the way money should be spent. "You?"
"I have a call with my lady Jane, but after that, the night is ours. Does the 9th hour suit you?" Thor asks, stuffing his face with an outrageous amount of nuts.
"Sure, sounds good."
Natasha: tell me when you finish your call
Thor: Certainly.
Thor: Would you like to proceed in my quarters or your own?
The redhead stops to think and would've chuckled if she wasn't actually feeling a little anxious. It anyone read their messages it would look like they were arranging a casual hook up.
She turns to her bright phone screen and thinks about it a little more.
Natasha: mine
She sends without further explanation. As she is right now, a little familiarity of her surroundings wouldn't go amiss. A thought pops in her head.
Natasha: do I need to wear any specific type of clothes?
Thor: Comfortable and loose ones if possible.
Natasha: ok
She sighs and centers herself. Nothing was happening today, they are just going to check her body so Thor will be well informed in case they go through with this. This isn't different from any other medical check she's had.
She turns out her screen and lies down on her bed and waits. Tuning the world out, she performs a few breathing exercises. And. Just. Waits.
Thor: I am finished.
Thor: I'll be with you in a few minutes.
Natasha: :)
She lets him in as soon as he knocks on her door and, the blond still waits for her to invite him in, even though that's the whole point of the two of them meeting.
"Make yourself at home." Natasha tells him and he laughs.
"You do not want to offer me that, my friend." Thor tells her jokingly but there's a notch of truth in his statement.
"Okay," she smiles a little. She walks to the center of the room, in a loose combo of pants and a baggy shirt. She turns to him "So, how do we do this?"
Natasha presents herself ready and confident, she suspects a little too confidently perhaps but there's no way around that. She's letting herself show, she's being vulnerable on purpose, very few people are privy to this side of her. She's pretty sure Thor's not really aware that he's now part of a small sloth of people who she lets view her without too many shrouds and shadows.
"I would have you laying on your bed for better access. It's easier for both of us if you are as relaxed as possible so nothing will interfere with my readings." He says professionally but warmly.
Just like any other medical check indeed.
She sighs imperceptibly but nods firmly.
"Do you need me to take my shirt off?" She asks, because she's been wondering about it for a while and she'd rather get it out of the way.
"No, just raising it will be fine for now." Thor tells her as she sits and lies down as comfortably a she can get.
For now. Which means some point along the way she'll definitely have to take it off. Natasha sighs mentally, better to know beforehand anyway.
"Would you mind terribly if I sat on your bed?" He asks, a little sheepish under the professional exterior.
"Not at all." She chuckles "Just take your shoes off please."
He nods and takes off his boots. Natasha scoots over so the blond has enough space to sit with his legs crossed. He rests his arms on his knees and looks at her questionably.
"Ready to begin?"
"Born ready." She says with little humor. She raises her shirt just below her bra and works quietly on more breathing exercises.
"If you feel uncomfortable at any moment, please let me know." He tells her.
She can tell he's trying his best to be calm and collected, to avoid making her feel anything but okay with the situation. Natasha nods and he raises his hands and hovers them on top of her skin.
"I really hope Tony doesn't have cameras in our rooms. This would be quite hard to explain." She says jokingly to make a bit of conversation.
Thor's eyes are closes but he chuckles at her comment.
"Indeed, though I would enjoy denying him any information. I delight much to ruffle his feathers when he can't find concrete answers." he tells her quietly.
The redhead huffs incredulously. Clint and her had long suspected Thor enjoyed riling up Tony and Bruce by making himself obtuse but had never had proof of it.
"Now, I mean no offense, but I need my whole concentration for this." He tells her.
"Of course. Sorry." She adds but Thor only shakes his head, waving away her apologies.
They are quiet. The only sounds in the room are both of their deep breathing. With nothing else to distract her, Natasha feels it.
She feels an almost imperceptible humming, a gentle vibration where the blond is hovering his hands on top of her stomach. The feeling is cool and it moves as he moves his hands; a little up over her ribcage, then slowly going down the top of her belly and lower still. It goes on for a while until she gets used to the running sensation. Its almost like… like…
It's almost like water running inside her, cool and fluid and gentle.
She exhales a bit more sharply than she had been. Thor's hands twitch but he doesn't stop.
"Are you all right?" He questions without opening his eyes, he looks serene as he works.
"Yeah." She answers calmly, not wishing to disrupt his work.
She observes him, immersed and concentrated, his blond eyebrows frown a little and unexpectedly he presses the tips of his fingers on her lower abdomen. She keeps herself centered and breathing evenly.
The feeling of his seidr recedes slowly from her body as he takes his hands away.
"All right." He says, blue eyes opening and focusing, like he's coming back to himself.
"That's all?" She sits up and shuffles back so she can lean on the headboard.
"That is all." He nods and smiles, placing his arms back over his knees.
"So, what's the diagnose doc?" Natasha breaks the little silence between them.
Thor quirks his eyebrows a little but ignores the comment he can't quite understand with a gracious smile.
"I think I know what I need now. It's a bit different from what I'm used to but nothing too hard to adjust too. This only leaves us with one pending question…" He looks at her with a raised eyebrow.
This is it. This is the moment. Another choice taken or forfeit.
Her heart beats rapidly and she catches sight of Thor's expression softening.
"You can think about it some more if you like? There is no rush at all my lady, the world has many days to live yet and they do not hurry."
But she already knows her answer. She's known it for a while now.
"No." Natasha shakes her head. "That won't be necessary I… I want to do this." She says softly though her words are firm. She exhales, like a weight has been lifted from her chest.
A smile spreads on the Thunder god's lips. "It will be my absolute pleasure to perform this task." He says nobly.
She feels far away, in a time where knights made vows and gestures of honor lived and breathed. She smiles as well.
"When do we start?"
"Not tonight." He chuckles and gets down from her bed. "I need to gather some herbs, flowers… a few other things."
Natasha begins nodding but stops as she reads his body language.
"You mean like… right now?" She asks anyway.
"Aye," he pops in his second boot and stands, stares into the night sky through the window for a moment. "The night seems gracious today, quite fine for a flight." He turns at her with a sunny expression. "Why waste such a perfect time to go as this?"
"I suppose." She thinks for a moment "What will you tell the others?"
"They are used to my comings and goings, they won't find it odd," he assures her. "I'll leave a note that 'll be visiting my Lady Jane." His look turns goofy. "Which will not be a lie."
The redhead blows out a shaky breath. She really is doing this.
The god turns to her and walks to the bed.
"How do you fare?" He asks kindly.
"I'm not sure," Natasha huffs "I'm feeling way too many things I'll definitely be unpacking when you leave, but… nothing too bad." And she is certain of what she says.
"Good." He pats her arm in comradery and straightens. "I'll be seeing you war sister." He gives her a slight bow.
When she's alone once more, she stands up and walks to the window. Natasha stays there until a shadow crosses the sky like a shooting star. She rests her forehead on the cool glass and prepares herself for another restless night.