Chapter 9: Comfortable
On their way home, it seemed there was an aura of relief filling the quinjet. Clint wasn't in critical condition and they managed to obtain a dangerous weapon from dangerous hands. Natasha stayed by Clint's side as Steve helped her patch him up. It helped to have another person that survived a war that knew field medicine well. Of course, Barton would need more than a field patch when they got back to the tower, but for now this would do. She managed to keep herself relatively calm during the walk and flight back, even though rage and fear were building up underneath her skin. It just would be something Steve would have to deal with tonight when she exploded, it was just bound to happen.
Leaning over Clint, Steve finished patching up their resident archer as best he could. "That should hold til we get you to the Tower," he announced, attempting a half-reassuring smirk and a nod.
"Should?" Tony called from the cockpit, his head facing forward. His hands danced over the various controls and he kept himself very busy, staring resolutely ahead.
"It will," Steve amended, patting Clint's leg where he wasn't injured.
"Oh don't worry your pretty little head," Clint said from where he was laying down. "With the great Captain America patching me up, I'm never gonna need medical attention again."
"Man you get sappy when you're hurt," Natasha scoffed, leaning on the table a bit. "And I did some stuff too, you know."
"Oh I know," Clint said. "I'll be looking at the bad stitches until they come out."
Natasha slapped him on the shoulder and looked towards Steve. She mouthed a 'thank you' to him, not wanting to PDA too much with all of the other Avengers around. Steve smiled and returned her thank you with a nod and she was going to make sure to properly thank him later.
"Hey Banner," Tony called, finally glancing away from the window. "Dr. Cho is on her way in from Seoul. Is it okay if she sets up in your lab?"
Bruce blinked, sitting on the other side of the jet with Terra and recovering from his transformation into the Hulk. "Uh, yeah. She knows her way around."
"Thanks." Tony said and then spoke something softer to Jarvis that Natasha couldn't make out. After a second, he began again in normal talking voice. "JARVIS, take the wheel," he ordered, moving his chair back so he could exit the cockpit. He hit "auto-pilot" on his way out.
"Yes, sir. Approach vector is locked."
"Feels good, doesn't it?" Tony said loudly, attracting all attention in the room to himself - as usual - though his question was directed at Thor. "We've been after this thing since SHIELD collapsed not too long ago. Oh yeah, that happened. So SHIELD is actually Hydra, which is a Nazi organization that wants to take over the world - wait, do you know what a Nazi is?"
"They're bad people," Steve summed up, not wanting to get into the specifics. "SHIELD was infiltrated by them and taken apart from the inside out."
"And Cap had a lot of fun tearing them down," Tony said, smirking at Steve.
Steve rolled his eyes. "Right. Fun."
"Uh, excuse me. We had a lot of fun tearing them down," Terra sassed, feigning outrage. "Natasha and I weren't braiding each other's hair, y'know. Women exist, Tony." She tsked, shaking her head.
Natasha smirked, deciding not to comment on the entire situation and let everyone else take care of it. She didn't have much to add anyway, she was present at the take down of Shield, but she wasn't the hero. Not really.
Thor, however, glanced over at Tony and Steve.
"Yes I know of these Nazis you speak of," Thor said. "History of all realms is taught on Asgard. I was sorry I could not be there to help you Captain. But, searching for all relics that have caused pain to the universe takes time. I have been searching for the scepter for some time ever since it was not brought back with Loki, and this brings my search to a close."
"As soon as we find out what else this has been used for," Steve amended. "I don't just mean weapons. Since when is Strucker capable of human enhancement?"
"Banner and I'll give it the once over before it goes back to Asgard," Tony assured, completely ignoring Terra. "Is that cool with you?" He looked at Thor, a little unsure. "Just a few days till the party. You're staying, right?"
Thor nodded absentmindedly, still staring at the scepter like he was afraid it would disappear. "Yes of course," he said, glancing over to Tony. "A victory should be honored with revels."
"Yeah, who doesn't love revels? Captain?" Tony said, looking over at Steve.
All business, Steve considered the offer. "Hopefully this puts an end to both the Chitauri and Hydra," he said, searching the sceptre with his eyes as if it were a key to the universe. He was mesmerized and when he looked up, he realized he'd been staring too long. "So yes," he said with a small smile. "Revels."
The rest of the ride was relatively quiet, Natasha staying by Clint and checking his vitals to make sure he was still okay and everyone else moving back and forth, Terra mostly staying with Bruce and Steve, Thor, and Tony mingling for the rest of the ride. Once the quinjet landed in the tower's hanger, Terra helped Nat and Bruce get Clint on his gurney over to Dr. Helen Cho's lab. After getting Clint on the gurney, she pressed a quick kiss to Steve's cheek before rolling Clint down the ramp and into the waiting arms of Cho's doctors. They started speaking Korean to each other and even though Natasha knew what they meant, she ignored them for the most part and focused on Clint, trying to make sure that the bed didn't rock too much and jostle his wounds.
They had reached the part in Stark and Banner's lab where Cho had set up and the group rolled him inside.
"I'm sorry Miss Romanoff?" Helen said, forming the question to make sure she got Natasha's name correct.
After a quick nod from Natasha, Helen continued.
"We need to have him alone while we set up and get him started," Helen said. "It shouldn't take long, we'll call you in when we're ready."
Natasha didn't say anything, just nodded and stepped to stand by the viewing window while Helen walked inside. She stared, worried, at Clint and what the doctors were doing to him. He glanced over and smirked at her through the window. He raised his hand and held up two fingers, and was immediately slapped down by one of the nurses and looked to be scolded for it. It eased Natasha's worry a bit and she even cracked a smile.
They worked on Clint for about fifteen minutes, getting him all prepped and taking some scans and readings before placing him under a machine that Natasha had no idea what it did. She knew Helen Cho was a world leading scientist and a lot of her work had to do with creating and regenerating tissue, but she really hadn't looked into it too much/
"You can come in now," Helen said to a waiting Natasha, bringing her out of her thoughts.
Natasha didn't waste any time, and walked right in. Clint was under the machine and it looked like it was scanning him over and over again, but only on his wound. She walked over to inspect it, only to find it repairing his skin slightly every pass.
"Brief me," Tony said to Helen, ignoring Natasha completely as he walked into the lab.
Natasha kept her face neutral, but bristled underneath at Stark. She knew she shouldn't, Stark was completely justified in ignoring her and not giving her the time of day, but it just got under her skin that even with all that she did, he still hadn't seemed like he budged on his opinion of her.
"It's working," Helen said, typing away at the computer and monitoring Clint's vitals. "His body is responding well to the treatment. It will still take some time, but it will work."
Tony went over to talk to Helen more and Natasha just sighed, looking down at her lap.
"Nat?" Clint asked softly, noticing his best friend's mood.
"This thing between Stark and I isn't going away," Natasha said. "I thought he would at least be cordial after his wedding gift, but nothing. Still won't speak to me."
"You've gotta give him some more time Nat," Clint said. "Yinsen was a big deal for him. And I know it wasn't you. Laura and the kids know that wasn't you. And Rogers knows it wasn't you. Stark just hasn't accepted it yet."
"I just don't want someone getting hurt because he can't work with me," Natasha said.
"When we're on the field, he won't let that happen," Clint said. "He's not that petty."
"I'm still not sure," Natasha said, still looking at Tony warily.
Tony headed out after his small conversation with Helen to meet Bruce and talk to him for a bit before heading back over to the tech part of the lab to start scanning the scepter. Bruce himself entered and started taking a look at everything that was in there.
"Dr. Cho, I have to say I am impressed." Bruce said as he admired the technology surrounding Clint, healing him.
Natasha nodded to Bruce as he entered and still peered skeptically at the machine. She leaned back and folded her arms.
"You sure he's going to be okay?" Natasha said, glancing at Cho. "Pretending to need this guy really brings this team together."
She added a smirk in the direction of Barton, and he merely smirked back at her, taking the joke for now, knowing he would find something to throw back at her in a couple of hours.
"There's no possibility of deterioration," Helen said, for what felt like the millionth time. "The nano-molecular functionality is instantaneous. His cells don't know they're bonding with simulacrum."
"She's creating tissue," he reiterated, eyes a little wider behind his glasses and his smile a little more genuine. Just like a kid in a candy store and Natasha had to chuckle about that.
"If you brought him to my lab, the regeneration Cradle could do this in twenty minutes," Helen said, partially stating a fact and partially bragging. Natasha couldn't fault her for it, it was something very impressive.
Tony shouldered the door open carrying a tray of four cups of juice. "Oh no, he's flatlining!" He said with mock enthusiasm. "Call it. Time?" He checked his watch and set the tray down on the nearest table.
Bruce gave him a disapproving look but accepted one of the cups. Tony glanced at Natasha and wordlessly offered her one, in what seemed like at least a small peace offering. Natasha accepted the drink, a little wary about it, but a small smile on her face nonetheless. One that said she wanted to mend things, but wasn't going to push him into doing anything.
"No, no I'm going to live forever," Clint said, chuckling as he himself accepted a glass of whatever Tony had made. "I'm gonna be made of plastic."
"You're going to be made of you Mr. Barton," Helen chided, reminding him once again. "Your own girlfriend won't be able to tell the difference."
"Well I don't have a girlfriend," Clint said, starting to take a drink of what Tony brought him.
"That I can't fix," Helen said sarcastically, all the while Clint glanced towards Natasha and shot her a knowing look and she had to contain a smirk so as to not raise suspicion.
"This is the next thing Tony," Helen continued, showing off her equipment to the billionaire. "Your clunky metal suits are going to be left in the dust."
"That is exactly the plan," Tony said jovially, seeming to just roll with that little punch. "And Helen, I expect to see you at the party on Sunday."
"Unlike you, I don't have time for parties," Helen deflected immediately, checking yet another scan. And then very nonchalantly asked, "Will Thor be there?"
Natasha, meanwhile, sent a look at Clint that she was going to leave him to heal as she took a drink of whatever Tony gave her. She wanted to change out of these clothes, take a shower, and just relax. She headed towards the elevator that would take her towards Steve's floor, knowing that he would be there showering now. Maybe it was finally time to join him in one of those. She chuckled imagining the blush that would probably come across his face if she entered on a whim.
November 15th, 2013
For the first time in a while, Natasha was actually enjoying a party. The last three days had been pretty good on their own anyway. Tony had been shut up in his lab, so there were no awkward passes in the hallway. Clint had healed up just fine, and stayed at the tower giving her another person to talk to. And Steve, well that was going well. She did sneak into one of his showers two days ago, and the result was more than she could dream of. The blush on his face was priceless, and when she finally calmed him down, they had some real fun.
She managed to build her web back up too, gaining all of her money back from that debacle, and started working with Isaiah to keep her charity donations coming. She even started dancing a bit more, becoming comfortable with herself once again.
Now, she was at a party and enjoying it with numerous different people. She even got all dolled up for Steve, proud to be his date. She wore a little black dress, ending just above her knees and showing off her curves and revealing just the right amount of cleavage to drive Steve nuts. She covered her shoulders with a white jacket, very tasteful if she said so. Her red hair was back to it's usually vibrant self and she curled it perfectly to frame her face. And finished off the whole look with some cherry red lipstick.
She was engaged in a conversation with James Rhodes, apologizing for the deception during the Stark Expo and him forgiving her right away. They actually got into a fun conversation, and she burst out laughing at a joke Rhodes just made, something she hadn't done in a while. After a bit she saw Steve, Terra, and Sam hanging out over by a pool table and playing a couple games.
Natasha had made her way over to the pool table, after grabbing a beer, and leaned on the side opposite from Steve and Sam.
"Whatever you do Steve," Natasha said, after taking a swig of the beer. "Don't mention that Sam still couldn't manage to get a date with the girl at the VA. He might lose focus and become embarrassed that a 90 year old has a date and he doesn't."
Natasha smiled in teasing, knowing that Sam was one to dish it right back, and she was prepared for it.
"Besides Steven," Natasha continued. "The quicker you beat Sam the sooner I can whoop Terra's ass."
"I would never mention that," Steve said mockingly as he lined up his cue. "That would be below the belt." He snapped the cue forward, sending the ball rolling into a complicated manoeuvre that sank at least three of his targets in their respective pockets.
"I'm biding my time," Sam defended, watching mournfully as Steve sunk in three solids. "More than I can say for you two. How'd that first convo go? 'You're nuts, I'm nuts, lets make out?'" He joked and took a sip of his whiskey before lining his shot up.
"It was a bit different than that," Natasha remembered, playing out the memories in her mind. "It was a mission in Mexico City, cleaning up the rest of the Red Room and rescuing Clint from some psycho lady. We battled, she beat me up, I killed her, the rest of the troops were going to fire on me, Steve charged in and did his Captain America macho thing, sniper zeroed in on him and I took the bullet."
Natasha smirked in what probably would only be funny to her and Steve now that they lived through it.
"I was bleeding out in his arms when I asked him out," Natasha continued. "So he probably thought I was nuts for sure. Then we did make out after a bit, so you got that part right."
Natasha stood up and walked over to where the guys were.
"Plus, Steve knows it's no fun waiting," Natasha said coyly, implying the numerous activities they had been up to lately.
The back of Steve's neck was beet red, but luckily it was hard to tell in the dim lighting. He did, however, fumble his next shot, hitting the first ball but missing the second, which rebounded at a weird angle and ended up gently tapping against Sam's striped, just enough to push it into the pocket. Steve straightened with a sigh, resting one hand on the top of his cue like it was a staff.
"That's me," Steve joked. "Leading authority on waiting too long. I could offer a word of advice, Sam, for any future girls not at the VA: don't."
Suddenly an arm was slung around Sam's shoulders and Natasha looked to see Terra with a new drink in hand. He bent slightly in amusement so she could actually reach properly. "Look who's back, where did you go?"
"Sam, if you want, I could set you up," Terra winked, ignoring his question. "I know plenty of eligible women who would be into the whole bird thing you got going on."
Sam playfully shoved her away without jostling her too much to spill her drink. "Very funny. I'd rather not date a former SHIELD agent, I'd be too nervous that they're Hydra," he joked, lining up his next shot.
"I'm still Facebook friends with girls from my old sorority," Terra mused and sipped her piña colada. Sam paused in his shot and looked at her incredulously over his shoulder.
"...You? In a sorority?" He clarified in bewilderment. Terra just grinned with a shrug. He shook his head in disbelief and went back to lining up his shot. "How is it with everything that's happened this year, that's the most shocking thing I've ever heard?"
Terra snickered, pulling up a stool to sit on. "The year's not over yet. Did Steve ever tell you guys about his little parachute incident when we went to pick up Thor at the beginning of Loki's invasion?" She chuckled, throwing a knowing glance at Steve.
Steve groaned and threw his head back. "Just when I thought you'd finally forgotten. I'm gonna get you one of these days Montgomery. Just you wait."
"Wait wait wait," Natasha said, rubbing Steve's back at the slip up and at his impending embarrassment. "Every story around Shield was that the great Captain America didn't need a parachute."
Natasha smirked as she sat on the edge of the pool table and finished off the beer she was drinking. She gave a sexy smile to Steve before looking back to Terra.
"Now I have to hear this story in its entirety," Natasha said.
Terra set down her drink on the table and rubbed her hands together devilishly as she thought of where to begin. "So, we were on the jet back from capturing Loki, in all his greasy haired glory," she began, in a dramatic story-telling fashion.
"Ho boy," Sam murmured but listening as he made his shot, sinking one of his stripes in.
"It was all going okay, but a storm came out of nowhere, obviously Thor. Not that we knew that at the time. But yeah, Thor came in, took Loki, and frickin bounced. Like he flew right out of the jet with the guy we just captured and we were all like, 'umm okay, not allowed,'" she explained, paused to take a sip of her drink, then kept going.
"So, Tony gets ready to go after him, Cap is all like-" Terra lowered her voice in a botched impression of Steve. "'Stark, we need a plan of attack!' and then Tony was like, 'I have a plan. Attack.' or something like that. Then Tony flew after Thor."
"We all knew Tony wasn't the most diplomatic person, so Steve figured it'd be best to go after them." She giggled a bit as she got to this part. "Like any sensible person, he took a parachute. After he jumped, I figured 'Oh yeah, I'm SHIELD's negotiator, I should probably go down there and maybe smooth talk my way into ending this peacefully.' But by this point, the winds were too strong to take a parachute, so I absorbed... I can't remember what I absorbed exactly but it was hard and I jumped like a lunatic."
"I get down there and I begin looking for anyone I know. Steve comms in, saying he has a problem, and I'm like, thinking the worst. Maybe he got struck by Thor's lightning, or Loki escaped and was about to do some magic voodoo, but I got there and-" Terra covered her mouth to stifle a snort.
"He's all wrapped up in his parachute in a tree, like a butterfly coming out of his cocoon."
Sam messed up his next shot as he chuckled up a storm. Natasha smiled very widely, but held back her laughter, trying to be the supportive girlfriend at Steve's embarrassment, but knowing that once they got behind closed doors she was going to laugh as long and hard as she could.
Steve rolled his eyes good-naturedly and threw back the bottle of beer he'd been cradling for the last twenty minutes, polishing it off in one go. He wiped his mouth and set it down on the counter not far behind them. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up." In one fell swoop, Steve bent over the table, lined up his shot, and sunk every last solid ball in three different pockets. Fwoop. Fwoop. Fwoop.
He straightened with a smirk. "That's game."
"There's my soldier," Natasha said, kissing him on the cheek for his victory. "And don't worry, everyone gets tangled in strings sometimes."
Natasha smirked and started grabbing the balls out of the holes and racking them up.
"Let's go Montgomery," Natasha said. "We're playing for secrets, and I need to know some things about what you do after hours."
"I just lost to Sam," Terra complained, pouting as she sipped her drink. "This'll be a disaster." Nevertheless, she assisted in setting up their game. She let Natasha break, probably already accepting her own defeat. Natasha had been playing this game for decades and she didn't plan on losing now.
Terra leaned on her cue and covered her mouth to stifle a small yawn. "I'm kinda tipsy-ish, so I'd probably tell you anything anyways. I've been watching a lot of makeup tutorials recently. God, it's so therapeutic. I was never into makeup as a youngster, but blending and contouring? I love it, it's like art, but on your face."
"I don't care about your YouTube recommended list," Natasha said, grabbing Steve's cue herself. "I want to know the stuff about you and our mighty jolly green giant. Tying the knot and other stuff like that."
Natasha smirked as she knew Terra was getting drunk enough to share secrets, whereas Natasha was decently far away. But Natasha had secrets too, and she was willing to put them up for grabs.
"Plus, I have information that the girls at SHIELD would have given three months salary for," Natasha said, winking at Steve, who just rolled his eyes and smiled at her as he and Sam headed out to probably get some more drinks.
"Is it how to do that combat move with your thighs properly? Cause I butcher it every time I try," Terra joked, sitting herself back on her stool, and using that blue chalk thing at the top of the cue. "Eh, things are kind of great as they are with Bruce. It's really only been about a year of us dating and everything is still kinda hectic. We haven't really talked about the future yet."
"My move is a trade secret," Natasha said, taking the triangle off of the balls and setting up the cue ball. She walked over to the edge of the table and lined up the break.
She took the shot and the balls bounced all over the table, one of the solids finding the pocket, designating her color. She glanced back up to Terra and chuckled.
"And it's more the secret that I gained with my thighs," Natasha said, softly. "And about what our resident super soldier looks like without his uniform on."
"Gahh," Terra said softly, taking in her pool situation. "I know that's like the American dream or something but since I consider him as a brother, I'd rather skip out on that secret." She lined up her shot at a promising angle, seeing an easy pick. With a jerky shot, she managed to get in one of her stripes. "Bingo," she sang, taking a sip of her drink.
"But I will ask, was it good?" she waggled her brows playfully.
"Best I've had," Natasha said, sliding over to get a look at the set up for a couple shots for her. "And if you know me, I've been around. The 40s have definitely been the best decade so far, you kids just don't know how to do it these days."
Natasha leaned over the table and struck the ball hard, hitting a split shot that put two solids in cleanly and spun the cue ball behind the 8 ball.
"Your welcome," Natasha gloated, grabbing the chalk for her pool stick.
"How do you know, Natasha? We've never tussled in the sheets," she joked playfully with a flirty wink, before scowling down at the pool table. "Ugh, lordy," she whined, walking around the table to figure out how to get out of her predicament. "Well, I'm glad it's going well." Terra positioned herself awkwardly to hit the cue ball without interfering with the eight, managing to knock around a few balls but no sinkers.
"So far at least," Natasha said, walking around to find another angle that would result in a multi-ball shot in.
She smiled as she found a shot that would win her the game and leaned over it.
"So," Natasha said, looking up. "One thing I've never had the guts to ask Steve is how far he went with that Serena chick. Like how long they dated and what stage of dating they got to. From what I've heard, he had a rough hangover from it after it ended."
"I mean, as far as his first twenty-first century relationship could've gone, it could've been worse," Terra mused, ordering another drink from a waiter. "If you read her file, and knowing what I know about you, I presume you did, she was a telepath and had telekinesis abilities. I think something else is at the works along there but we never got into it." She received her second pina colada and took a sip.
"To my knowledge, it was getting a lot serious a little fast. I think as far as a serious boyfriend girlfriend relationship could go, without the moving in part. I mean, that's understandable in this line of work, not knowing if we'll survive the next mission, so wanting to go all in isn't that hard to understand. But she was one of the first people he met after he came up, and while Steve is strong on his own, he also needed someone to depend on a little. Serena had her own issues going on, so she couldn't do that for him, which is why I think it didn't work out."
"Well," Natasha said, hitting the cue ball and knocking in the last of her balls. "I hope I'm not moving too fast for Steve. But I do know that I plan on sticking around. And as long as he can deal with my issues, I'll help him through his."
Natasha tossed her pool cue towards Terra after securing her win and smiled at her.
"Go rescue your boyfriend, he looks horribly uncomfortable," Natasha advised, noting Bruce kinda milling around by himself and not speaking to anyone and headed towards the bar to make herself a drink. Natasha got behind the bar and bent down to start grabbing ingredients for her own drink, shooing away the man that was working it. She heard a couple of voices and popped up to see that the rest of the team, Steve, Sam, Tony, Thor, and Maria, had picked the bar to hang out as well.
Natasha assembled the proper alcohol in the shaker and started to mix up the drink, having the glasses in front of her. All the while she glanced over to the conversation that was being had, but didn't actively participate, especially because Tony wasn't even 10 feet from her, something that she knew they should both avoid each other.
"Friend Steven," Thor boomed, even startling Natasha a bit with his volume, heading over to the Captain. "These human drinks aren't worthy of your metabolism. Let us go drink some of my mead, and I will try and see if I can bring the mighty Captain America to heel!"
Natasha smiled as Steve went with him among the prodding and cheers from the group and turned to grab an ingredient she missed.
"Hey bartender," a voice said softly from behind her, in a slightly teasing fashion. "Two piña coladas, one with rum, one without please."
Natasha turned around and smiled at the sight of Bruce. She really did like the guy. He was nice and sweet, unlike what you would think that the Hulk would be like. He really cared for Terra too, which was a big plus in Natasha's eyes. That much devotion to someone else was becoming rarer and rarer these days.
"Coming right up," Natasha said back, starting to mix the drinks.
As she was gathering the ingredients, she started up a casual conversation with the man.
"So, getting drinks with the enemy huh," Natasha teased, not a serious intent at all in referring to Tony's line in the sand and Bruce's close relationship with him. "You afraid that I'll poison your drink somehow?"
"No," he answered, rubbing his fingers together on the countertop as he watched her mix drinks like a professional bartender. "I have to give you at least a little credit or we'll never be friends," he joked.
"Friends," Natasha said with a snort. "Now that's something I don't think I'll bat 1000 on with all of the Avengers."
Natasha finished grabbing the ingredients and started pouring the drinks, mixing them with expertise.
"I was honestly surprised at my first encounter with the Star Spangled Man with a plan," Natasha said. "Let alone know that we would date someday. He's not usually the guy I go for. I'm usually more of a one night girl, or something that's mainly physical to take my mind off things."
Natasha finished the virgin drink and handed it to Bruce before getting the alcohol for the other one he ordered.
"I've known fighters all my life," Natasha said. "From the USSR to the Red Room to Shield. And then here comes this guy, who only fights to protect the little guy. Fact is, he's not like any fighter I've ever known."
"Sounds amazing," Bruce agreed and Natasha could tell he was surprised she was opening up to him like this. He glanced over at Steve and Thor on the second level, causing Natasha to look as well. They appeared to be socializing with a bunch of rowdy, white-haired men in the midst of gambling away their retirement savings. Steve and Thor towered over them all, drinks in hand and blonde hair glowing.
"Steve is quite the catch." He accepted the two drinks, mentally marking them to keep track of which one was which. "And Natasha?" He said just before he turned to leave. "For the record, I'm really glad you two found each other."
"Well, I'm glad someone is," Natasha said, taking a drink of her own mix.
Even though she was all invested in this relationship with Steve, and she was never going to leave. They would have to pry her dead hands away from this opportunity. But she knew that she wasn't good enough for Steve. He could tell her a million times that she was wrong, and she knew that she wasn't wrong. She saw the news. Reports had surfaced from the Stark wedding about them dancing together. No official photos had captured any kiss between them, but there were still theories.
Steve hadn't been seen dancing with another woman in public, besides Terra and Pepper maybe, since Serena. Obviously the paparazzi had a field day with it, tagging her from the Shield dump and comparing their records side by side. Alex Jones had some more fire to continue on his show, and the ladies of the View surprisingly hit her harder than she expected. She read some of the tabloids, getting scolded by Steve when he found her, but she knew every word was true.
She gave Bruce a smile, perfectly hiding her emotions inside like she had been taught all her life. She finished off the drink she made and grabbed a couple beers, getting ready to head up to an overhang where Clint currently was, talking to some random and twirling some drumsticks like a major dork.
Thor and Steve joined them after a bit, and after about thirty minutes most of the rest of the guests had gone and it was just the Avengers, Rhodey, Helen, and Maria left, all hanging in a sitting space on a balcony of the main area. As soon as Steve had sat down, she had taken off her shoes and put her legs across his lap, leaning back into the chair she owned herself. She saw that Steve was a little tipsy, thanks to Thor's magic alcohol. She was as sober as a middle schooler, not touching any of the mead and mainly drinking beer. The current conversation was currently going on about Buzzfeed and movies.
"That's bullshit, Maria. The spinner was slowing down and you know it." Terra said, having been in an intense argument with Hill about the movie Inception.
"He's created a dream world of fantasy before, he obviously did it again," Maria replied calmly, taking a swig of her beer. "The kids weren't real, he's still in a dream."
Terra grumbled to herself, pulling out her phone. "I'm sending you a Buzzfeed article that'll make you eat your words."
Bruce snorted derisively before clearing his throat apologetically. "Sorry, but Buzzfeed? Really?"
"Thank you!" Tony exclaimed, kicking his feet down onto the floor from the ottoman he'd propped them on. "I've blocked the website for all Stark employees. It's too trashy and distracting."
"What's Buzzfeed?" Steve asked.
"Think of it this way," Tony said, leaning back into the couch and letting both arms lie on the back of it. He was wedged between the half of Terra on the couch and the arm on the end. "Would you rather spend your time doing baseless, useless, random quizzes that tell you absolutely nothing and have 0% accuracy while staring at the clickbait on the sides of your screen or browse the most trusted newspaper in the country, maybe the world? Which is a better use of your procrastination time that I am paying you for?"
"The New York Times," Bruce answered, nodding sagely.
"That 'which Avenger are you' is fun though," Natasha said with a snort, taking another sip of her beer. "I got Thor," Natasha said, knowing very well most of the Avengers had probably taken that quiz.
"I consider that a great honor Lady Natasha," Thor said, raising his bottle to her. "I remember Darcy ranting on about a quiz like that. She was ecstatic to get Lady Terra as her result. Jane took it as well and got Dr. Banner."
"Aw, that's so sweet!" Terra squeaked at someone being happy to get her. "I got Clint, so funny. Maria, I'm sending you the quiz too." She tapped on her phone. Maria hummed in affirmation, looking over the article Terra sent her.
"Well," Maria said once she finished. "I stand corrected. An actual interview with Michael Cane saying that whatever scene that has Dom's dad in it, is reality." Maria reached over to clink her bottle with Terra's glass. "I've been defeated in movie theory."
"Boom," Terra clinked glasses with her. "There you have it."
"And I got Cap," Maria announced once she finished the quiz, satisfied.
Still a fair bit tipsy, Steve reached into his back pocket and pulled out his phone. "Well, now I have to take it."
Tony threw up his hands. "Mindless drones. All of you."
"I think I'd rather them mindless. Mindlessness makes them pliable," Bruce said very ominously as he raised his second glass of piña colada to his lips.
Tony snorted and looked around. "How about instead of stupid quizzes we play an equally stupid drinking game. Involving a numerous amount of things that people have never done."
"Oh yes," Clint said, knowing exactly where he was going. "Oh Nat loves this game so much. We have to do it."
"Clinton Francis Barton," Natasha said, dangerously. "I do not like this game and I do not want to get that drunk tonight."
"It's not my fault you've done everything," Clint said as he was in a stare down with Natasha.
"I am confused, friends," Thor said. "What game do you speak of?"
"Never Have I Ever is where someone in the room asks a question beginning with 'never have I ever' and it could be something like," Terra supplied and then fumbled for an example.
"Never have I ever choked on an olive at the bar," Maria supplied with a grin, giving Terra a point look to which she responded with a soft glare.
"...Yes. And if anyone in the room has... choked on an olive at the bar, they have to take a drink." Terra said, deflecting a bit.
"So, take a drink, Terra." Maria prodded again, getting the room to smirk.
"Okay, Pepper's assistant told a joke so it wasn't my fault," Terra defended, causing the room to break out in laughter.
"Well, alrighty," Terra said, setting her drink down on the side table and rubbing her hands together, trying to think of a spicy question. "Never have I ever... made out with a stranger. And strangers as in, never had one full conversation, stranger."
Maria took a drink. "I was undercover, couldn't let them see my face," she shrugged.
Natasha frowned as she took a drink, knowing this was going to be a long day for her. Clint took one too, deciding to add a comment to this.
"You know you got a lot of tame Shield assignments if you never had to kiss a stranger," Clint said, though a teasing look on his face. "I need to go over my contract again and compare it to yours. I hope I got paid better because of it."
Laughing, Tony threw back his rum and coke. He miraculously did not choke. He slammed the glass back onto the table with a belch. "I'm getting another drink. Who wants one?"
"I'll take a beer," Steve said, raising a hand, not drinking on this one.
Bruce shifted in his seat. "Guess it's my turn. Uh, never have I ever... oh, this is hard. Um... Never have I ever been to Australia."
In the kitchen, Tony took a gulp of the next drink he'd just finished pouring for himself. "Grand opening of the seventh Stark Tower. Don't remember any of it but I was definitely probably there for it." He cracked open a bottle of beer and walked over to hand it to Steve, who took it gratefully but did not drink.
Terra and Maria both drank. "I was there for a negotiation and saw the biggest spider," Terra shuddered. "Like the size of a dinner plate. In my hotel room. It was on the ceiling!"
Maria chuckled. "Oh yeah, I was supervising for that mission. The fire alarm in your room went off and I broke down the door, holding my gun and you were there with a can of hairspray and a lighter."
Terra narrowed her eyes as she took another sip. "I flamed that sonofabitch out of my room."
Natasha and Clint drank immediately, having been to Australia multiple times for missions.
"You've never been to Australia?" Natasha said to Steve, smirking. "You need to get out more."
"I have been to Australia," Thor said, taking a drink of his beer. "I met a nice man named Darryl down there, stayed at his place for a few days."
"I get out plenty," Steve defended at Natasha's remark. "Just not Down Under. Maybe we should go sometime, just you and me." He couldn't help the suggestive smile on his face, maybe because of the alcohol. It felt good to be drunk again. Not to drown his sorrows or to celebrate anything but just to be. It was... freeing. Free wasn't something he'd felt in a very long time.
"Ugh, I'm gonna barf," Tony declared.
"If Pepper was here you'd be way worse," Steve challenged.
"But it wouldn't make me want to barf."
"It would make Pepper want to barf," Bruce said, followed by Steve's chuckle.
Helen hummed in thought, mostly quiet in all of this, tapping her chin. "Never have I ever... worn makeup."
Steve and Tony both drank. Natasha hid a blush and poked Steve with her foot, conveying a few things. To stop around Tony so he wouldn't get pissed, that he was getting drunk, and he could count on that trip.
At Helen's challenge Natasha took another drink, but Clint and Thor refrained.
"Wait wait wait," Clint said, looking at Tony and Steve. "More information about that please."
Tony shrugged. "Live appearances. TV stints. Reality episodes. Talk show interviews. Concerts. Benefits. You name it. All require makeup. Also, a couple of drunken escapades where some girls decided to draw on my face with lipstick. Does that count?"
"Same thing, sort of," Steve confessed. "When I was touring during the war. I wore a mask but they covered me in this beige powder stuff anyway. But I didn't have it anywhere near as bad as the girls."
Finding their stories lacking, Bruce instead turned to Helen. "Wait, you've never worn makeup? Not even once?"
She shook her head. "I don't need expensive chemicals cruelly tested on animals to make me feel good about myself. And also my mother would never allow it. Natasha? It's your turn."
"Alright alright," Natasha said, getting an evil grin and looking at Clint. "Never have I ever seen the Lion King."
Clint grinned back and took a drink of his beer. She knew very well that it was Cooper's favorite movie when he was a little one, and Clint had to have watched it a thousand times. However, when Natasha came over, she always managed to escape seeing it. It was a never ending battle between the two spies, basically ending up a meme at that point.
Terra choked on her the last sip of her drink. "What?!" She squawked, obviously appalled by Natasha's confession.
Maria shrugged. "I've seen parts of it, does that count?" She asked, shaking her nearly empty beer bottle.
Terra got up, thoroughly stressed out from this revelation and going to get another drink. "I mean, I guess? Take a smaller sip. Want another beer?"
"Yes, please."
Terra got a beer for herself and Natasha as well, seeing as Natasha was almost out, humming Hakuna Matata as she uncapped them and came back. Passing Maria and Natasha their beer, she squeezed in between Tony and Bruce on the couch to allow Bruce to get some feeling back in his legs. "Sooo, movie night tomorrow? Maybe we can fix this?"
Steve and Bruce raised their drinks to their lips but Tony merely shrugged. "Was too old when it came out," he explained. "But I'll gladly host a movie night tomorrow if you guys are up for it."
"You're never too old for Disney," Bruce said wisely. "Except maybe the Disney channel. Everyone's too old for that."
"I could go for a movie night," Steve said, looking at Natasha. It would be the one thing he knew about pop culture that she didn't, which would be nice. Natasha had refrained from telling him that she had most of the older Disney movies memorized down to the line as that was the way she learned english in the Red Room. It was for that reason she didn't continue watching any other Disney movies from then on. She would just have to come up with an excuse for tomorrow, and she would worry about that later.
"I'll set it up," Tony decided. "Everyone's invited. That means you too, Helen."
Helen rolled her eyes. "It just so happens that I have a date tomorrow night. With my research."
The guys laughed. "Okay, okay. No pressure," Tony promised.
It was Steve's turn. He tilted his head to think. "Never have I ever... flown with something that I owned."
"Fuck you, Rogers," Tony - who owned several planes, jets, helicopters, and at one time over fifty Iron Man suits - said with fake malice and took a huge gulp of his drink.
"Language," Steve chided, smirking into his beer.
Thor took a drink because technically he did fly with his hammer.
"This game does seem like you want to screw over your friends," Thor commented with a chuckle, knowing it was just friendly banter.
"Or your girlfriend," Natasha said bitterly, taking another drink. "You're in trouble for that one Rogers."
"Wait wait wait," Clint said, not having to take a drink. "You never told me you owned anything."
"Let's be reasonable Clint," Natasha said, slightly sulking at the fact that she had to drink on everything except for the one she gave.
Both Maria and Terra didn't drink as they have flown in many aircrafts but never owned them. "My turn," Maria announced, drumming her fingers against the table in thought. "Never have I ever broken something at a friend's house and then not told them."
Terra sank a bit into the couch and took a sip as subtly as she could, probably trying to keep whatever she broke a secret.
Natasha took a drink again, fully expecting to keep doing this throughout the night. She glanced over to Clint to see him give her a sheepish look before taking a drink.
"Oh no," Natasha said, knowing exactly what he was on about.
"I always meant to tell you," Clint said.
"Clint," Natasha growled, anger in her eyes.
"C'mon Nat," Clint said, slinking behind Maria a bit to hide himself against the penetrating gaze of the Black Widow. "It wasn't on purpose."
Steve turned his attention to Clint and Natasha's little spat. "What's he talking about?"
"I had a priceless Egyptian vase that was dated back to almost 3000 BCE that 'fell' a couple of years ago," Natasha said. "And our soon to be deceased archer said it fell over because of bad balancing. I found that after a hellish mission in the desert and you lied to me about it?"
"Uhhh," Clint said, looking around for any help. Luckily, he found it with Tony and Thor's side conversation about Thor being able to fly with his hammer.
"Yes I can fly with my hammer," Thor said. "One of the great many gifts Mjolnir grants to those who are worthy."
"And whoever is worthy are the only ones who can lift it?" Clint said, changing the subject to avoid the wrath of Natasha.
"Yes that is correct," Thor said.
Clint just scoffed, "But it's a trick."
Thor smiled, welcoming the coming challenge. "Oh no," the Asguardian said. "It's much more than that."
"Uh, Whosoever be he worthy shall haveth the power!," Clint said with way too much emphasis. "Whatever man, it's a trick."
"Well please," Thor said, gesturing to the hammer. "Be my guest."
For a few seconds, silence reigned. But Tony managed to speak first as the next competition brewed out of nowhere.
"Clint, you've had a tough week. We won't hold it against you if you can't get it up," Tony said, smirking already.
Bruce snorted into his drink while Steve tried (and failed) not to grin. Natasha just grinned as she knew exactly where this was going.
"Really?" Clint said.
"Yeah," Thor said, smiling and getting ready for the fun that was going to ensue.
Clint jumped up, eager for the challenge. He set his drink down and walked over to the hammer, which was sitting on the table.
"You know I've seen this before right," Clint said, looping his arm through the strap and grabbing the handle.
He lifted with all his strength and the hammer didn't budge. Not even a fraction of a centimeter. He just started laughing as he let go of the hammer.
"I still don't know how you do it," he said to Thor, ready to endure the teasing.
Laughter accompanied Clint's almost pitiful attempt to lift the hammer but it wasn't laughter at his expense.
"Smell the silent judgment?" Tony asked smugly, but also teasingly.
Clint, not one to be one upped, stepped out of the way of the hammer so Tony could see it. He gestured with his hand towards the hammer.
"Please Stark," Clint said, challenging him. "By all means."
"Boys," Natasha groaned, knowing that this was going to be a challenge that everyone would take a crack at.
As if expecting this very outcome, Tony stood up with a dramatic exhale, unbuttoning his blazer to keep his arms more freedom. Bruce hummed interestedly. Steve just chuckled and shook his head.
"I'm never one to shrink from an honest challenge," he said, approaching the statuesque hammer. It sat diagonally on the coffee table, its handle pointing up at him as if stretching out a hand. "It's physics."
Bruce "mm-hmm"-ed, unconvinced but enjoying the show.
"Alright so if I lift it, I then rule Asgard?" Tony asked, adjusting his stance, adjusting his grip, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"Ooou," Terra crowed, very much supportive of any competition. She pulled out her phone to send footage to Pepper, in case Tony turned into the new Thor or something.
Maria sat up in interest, getting a better view of the shenanigans. "Don't hurt yourself, Stark," she warned playfully. The former senior agent then nudged the attention of Natasha, Terra, and Helen; the non-testosterone-filled beings in the room, and placed bets.
"Yes, of course," Thor said, knowing that there would be absolutely no worry with Stark.
Natasha just smirked and at Terra's nudge she pulled a twenty out of her pocket and nodded her head towards Steve. She didn't have any doubt that Steve would be able to lift the hammer. He was the purest heart of anybody on the planet, so this was obviously the next step.
Natasha did feel an interesting pang whenever she looked at the hammer though. She glanced back at it again and she thought she could make out a symbol on the hammer before it disappeared. Thor felt this as well, and looked out of the corner of his eye at Natasha, but she didn't appear to notice anything. He shrugged it off and went back to enjoying the show that was his comrades trying to lift his hammer.
"I will be reinstating prima-nocta," Tony declared (though he was totally kidding). Right before he lifted, Bruce reached into his back pocket and tossed a five dollar bill at Maria's bet pile. He mouthed 'no one' as Tony grunted, arm muscles and tendons pulled as he strained to so much as shift the hammer. It became immediately evident that Tony could not lift it. However, that did not seem to deter him. He yanked his wrist out of the strap and fixed the sleeve of his jacket. "Be right back."
Not 60 seconds later, he returned wearing one Iron Man glove. Even as only one piece it whirred noisily when he moved. He pulled again, adjusting his grip and digging his heels into the carpet. His cheeks puffed and the veins on his forehead started to bulge. The rockets on either side of his wrist popped out and blasted, giving him more than ample leverage. Yet Mjolnir was immovable.
"Rhodey, be my Queen?" Tony asked, letting go and giving himself a moment to catch his breath.
"I'll be your Hand. Get it? No? Okay then." Rhodes said as he retrieved his own glove. Together, Iron Man and War Machine pulled as hard as they could. The rockets in both of their gloves sang in high-pitched whirs, getting higher and higher. "Are you even pulling?" Rhodey accused, sweat beading on his brow.
"Are you on my team?" Tony shot back.
"Just represent! Pull."
"Alright, let's go."
They went but the hammer did not.
Finally, they gave up.
Steve nudged Bruce with his elbow. "You should try," he encouraged.
Bruce nearly died laughing and snorting, which turned into a brief coughing fit. When he recovered, he said, "Thanks. I needed that. Why don't you go, Cap?"
Steve peered at the hammer curiously. "Ah, alright." Still a little buzzed, he passed his drink off to Bruce and stood, rolling up his sleeves and making a big show. He smirked at Natasha briefly before wrapping his fingers around the handle, no wrist strap needed.
"C'mon Cap," Tony cheered quietly. "I bet a hundred on you."
Steve yanked and promptly fell on his ass with a yelp. To his shock, Mjolnir's handle was still in his grasp and couldn't weigh more than five pounds. He blinked from his spot on the carpet uncomprehendingly.
He - and Bruce and Tony - looked to Thor for an explanation.
All of them were silent. Thor himself was frozen in place. First he had a suspicion about Lady Natasha, but now Steve had gone and lifted the hammer as easily as Thor could. Natasha just smirked, knowing it was going to happen from the very beginning. She knew her guy inside and out, and this was the easiest call she ever made.
"I want my money," Natasha sang, gloating in her victory.
Clint still had his mouth open as Thor stood up and walked over to Steve. It took him a second, but he eventually offered a hand to the Captain.
"I should have known," Thor said, a smile coming on his face. "Of course, it's so obvious. Lord Steven, you are the noblest man I know. You are welcome at Asgard at any time, and you have proven yourself worthy to wield Mjolnier. Songs will be written about this moment."
Terra let out a low whistle, impressed. If it could be any person, of course it would be Steve. Maria shook her head with a smile and passed Natasha her winnings. "Fair's fair," she sighed, taking a sip of her beer.
Terra narrowed her eyes at the hammer. "So... if the hammer was on the table and someone picked up the table, would that count? Or would the hammer weigh it down?" She pondered to Maria. The senior agent rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "I don't know, Terra."
"Do you think it's like a grading system? 85% worthy and up get to lift?" Terra continued.
"I don't know, Terra." Maria reiterated good naturedly.
"I think it's still rigged," Clint said. "More like whoever has Thor's permission to lift the hammer."
"Yes that's an interesting theory," Thor said, helping Steve up and taking the hammer just as easily from him. "I have a different one however."
Thor tossed the hammer in the air and twirled it around before looking around.
"You're all not worthy," he stated plainly.
Thor smirked as the chorus of disagreement from the rest of the Avengers came around, but they were suddenly cut off by a loud screeching sound. There came a soft set of metallic footsteps from the other end of the room, leading to the lab, and an ominous voice.
"Worrrthyyy," it drawled, still getting used to talking in its new body. "How could you be worthy. You're all killers."
In the main opening was a very roughly built robotic body, put together from random pieces of Iron Legion parts. Oil was leaking everywhere and there were numerous wires loose from the body. Natasha felt the jovial mood she was in completely vanish as a tingle went down her spine as she looked at the dismembered body of the Iron Legion below them.
A/N
Another chapter up, some good set up and a little fluff, and all of it is now ruined by a certain mechanical villain. Chapter contributions from A Velvet Rose and SarahCon
Reviews are always appreciated