"Come in."
Natasha came into the room, "Alina, where are you?"
"I'm in the closet, Nat, did you need something?"
"I came to see if you needed any help getting ready." Nat said as she walked into the closet.
"You are a god send, yes please, I don't know which dress to wear to this party."
Natasha looked at the dresses that Alina had narrowed it down to critically. She glanced at Alina, then picked out a red silk, off the shoulder, short sleeve, mermaid dress that came down mid calf. Natasha chose gold ankle strap high heels and gold hoop earrings. Alina's brown hair was curled in waves hanging loosely down her back, her make-up was simple but flawless.
Alina took Natasha's choice into the bathroom to change. When she came out, she modeled it for Natasha.
"What do you think?"
Natasha gave a low whistle, "You look stunning, Thor's going to be rendered speechless."
Alina blushed, "I'm not wearing this to impress Thor."
Natasha raised an eyebrow, "Oh please, you couldn't keep your eyes off each other."
"That may be true but, I'm sure it was just the facination of meeting someone new."
"If you say so, Alina, come on let's get going."
Natasha took Alina by the arm and they headed up to the penthouse. The stepped out onto the floor and Alina's mouth fell open, the penthouse was decked out in decorations, there were lasers everywhere, a DJ was playing music off in a corner. Tons of people had already shown up and there were waiters walking around with champaign and food. There was, of course a bartender mixing drinks for everyone. Alina was amazed how Tony could organize this with such short notice, it was probably Pepper that did it, though.
All of the Avengers were already there including Rhodey, Fury, Coulson, Hill, and several other SHIELD agents. Thor had been sitting on the couch talking to Steve, he looked up when the elevator doors opened and Natasha and Alina stepped out. Thor's eyes widened at the sight of Alina, his mouth dropping open. Steve followed his gaze and he smiled.
"Wow Alina looks really nice."
Thor slowly turned to Steve, "Nice? Captain, she looks absolutely breath taking."
Thor was about to get up when he saw Bruce make his way over to Alina, his smile fell when he noticed Bruce give Alina a hug and kiss her forehead. Thor's eyes narrowed as he watched Bruce put his arm around Alina's shoulders and lead her further into the room.
Steve, having noticed Thor's attitude change, gave him a questioning look. "Something wrong, Big Guy?"
"I had no idea that Banner was courting Lady Alina." Thor said, disappointment evident in his voice.
Steve turned around, he chuckled at the sight. "Not at all, Thor, Bruce and Alina are just friends. As a matter of fact Bruce sees her as a little sister, he's very protective of her."
The sparkle returned to his eyes and a big grin was plastered on his face.
"You should go talk to her, Thor."
Without hesitation, Thor got up and made his way towards Bruce and Alina. He smiled brightly at her, she returned the smile. Taking her hand, he brought it to his lips and kissed it. He felt the tingle on his lips again, it was most enjoyable.
"Alina, you look absolutely breath taking." Thor said.
A beautiful blush spread across her cheeks, "Thank you, Thor, and you look very handsome." Thor beamed at the compliment.
Thor had his hair tied back, he was wearing a red silk shirt with the first couple of buttons undone, black jeans and black boots. His beard was nicely trimmed. They stared at each other for a moment until Bruce cleared his throat, Thor's eyes shifted to Bruce.
"Hello, Banner, how are you this evening?"
"I'm good, Thor, how 'bout yourself?"
"I am doing very well," Thor said as his eyes went back to Alina.
Bruce looked between Thor and Alina and excused himself, going to the bar to get a drink. They didn't even acknowledge him when he left.
Without letting go of her hand, Thor led Alina more into the room, "Would you like something to drink, Alina?" He asked as they went to the bar.
Alina turned to the bartender, "An Amaretto Sour, please."
The bartender nodded, he makes the drink placing it in front of her, Thor looks at it curiously.
"Have you ever had one before," She asked him, he shook his head.
"Oh then you need to try it."
Handing her glass to him, Thor took the drink and took a sip. It was not nearly as strong as Asgardian ale, but it did have a sweet and sour taste he found pleasant. Drinking the rest of it he smiled at her when he finished.
"Did you like it?"
"Yes, it has a pleasant taste, though it is not very strong."
"Would you like another?" He nods, "Two more, please."
They sit at the bar sipping their drinks, talking and laughing. Tony looks over where he's standing talking to Pepper, he gets this smug look on his face.
"I knew it."
Pepper gives him a questioning look, "knew what?"
Tony motions with his head, "That Thor and Alina would hit it off. They seem to be perfect for each other."
"So that's what this whole party was for, so they could hook up?" Bruce asked sounding a little irritated as he walks up behind Tony. Tony jumped at the sound of his voice.
"No, not entirely, it really is to welcome Thor back, and if something happens between him and Alina so be it." Tony says wiggling his eyebrows.
"Nothing is going to happen between them, at least not in the way your sick mind is thinking, Tony." Bruce growled.
"And why not?"
"Alina was raise in a very old fashioned way, she is saving herself for marriage."
"You're joking, you mean she's never…"
"I think that's sweet." Pepper says, cutting Tony off.
While Bruce, Tony and several other Avengers were talking, a slow song began to play, it was one of the songs that Darcy had shown Thor. He smiled down at Alina and asked her if she wanted to dance, she beamed up at him and agreed. Thor led her out to the dance floor where he took her in his arms and they began too slow dance to the music, they never took their eyes off each other.
Thor had never felt so happy in his entire life, not even with Jane. Being with Alina, even though he had just met her that day, felt right, made him feel complete. After their dance they went to sit on one of the couches, continuing their conversation. Thor felt this need to tell her everything about himself, he told her how he was exiled and met Jane. How he had changed from an arrogant, cruel, boy to the benevolent and understanding man he is today. He told her of his part in the invasion of New York and what happened later with Jane and the dark elves.
He eventually told her how Jane left him broken hearted and that, that was the reason he had been gone for so long. But now that he was back, he was determined to move on with his life.
"Good for you, Thor, you definitely need to leave the past behind you, I'm sure you'll meet someone special that will compliment you completely." Thor's heart warmed at her words.
Alina, in turn told him that she had been taken away from her father when she was a year old then abandoned by her mother at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. That when she was five her father came back for her, though she ended up returning to the school after being mistreated by members of her own family. She told him how basically Logan was her second father and was very protective of her. She told him of her degrees in science, medicine and law, that put a little damper on things for Thor. He wasn't sure he wanted to be with another scientist again. He was thinking she would be like Jane and not understand that he had duties to attend to and people to protect.
But when she told him that she was a mutant and part of the X-Men, he was very curious. He wasn't sure what a mutant was and he had never heard of the X-Men before. She explained to him that basically she was born with the power over the elements, earth, air, water, fire and metal. Thor's eyes lit up when she told him this, she went on to tell him about the X-Men.
"The X-Men is an organization of superhumanly powerful mutants that was founded by Professor Charles Xavier for two purposes: first, to train such mutants in the uses of their superhuman powers, and second, to serve as a combat team that could defend humanity against attacks by superhumanly powerful mutants who use their powers for criminal ends, as well as against other threats. The Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters is a special institute founded and led by Professor Xavier to train young mutants in controlling their powers and help foster a friendly human-mutant relationship." Alina informed Thor.
"That is absolutely fascinating, I had no idea such beings existed in Midgard."
"Well, we try to remain under the radar and those of us that can, try to blend in with the humans. But there are a lot of mutants whose mutatations are so radical that they can't blend in, thus the school was made. It also helps so we are not caught and experimented on."
Thor's brow furrowed, "I do not understand."
"Well, if the history of man has taught us anything it's that men fear what they don't understand, so by that logic, mutants are something that humans don't understand, so we are feared. The end result is that my kind are captured, tortured, experimented on, and eventually killed. So it is in our best interest to blend in and not cause waves."
"That is terrible, and your government allows this?"
Alina scoffs, "They're usually the ones that are doing the experimentations."
Thor made a face of disgust, "Such things would not be tolerated on Asgard."
"Ah, but you don't have mutants, so you really can't be sure the Allfather would tolerate such beings." Alina pointed out.
"You know of the Allfather?"
"Some, my father has mentioned him once or twice." But she changed the subject.
Alina had no intention of telling Thor that Zeus and Odin had a treaty that allowed Asgardians to come to earth in the first place. If Thor wasn't informed, she wasn't going to be the one to tell him, it wasn't her place.
Zeus, unlike Odin, was very transparent, he was a blunt 'man' and let others know exactly what he was thinking at all times, he held nothing back. So, Alina, being his favorite demi-god child, was informed of everything as well. She already knew Thor had been banished here, what happened to him while he was here was something she didn't know as it had no direct impact on the greek gods so the Zeus didn't care. As was his motto, let the mortals fend for themselves.
The night progressed very nicely with Thor spending the majority of his time with Alina, talking and laughing and just getting to know each other. Of course other people would come talk to them, separating them. But where ever Thor was in the room, his eyes always found Alina. He would give her a big smile causing her to blush and look away, which he found absolutely adorable.
By the end of the night everyone was drunk off their asses except for Steve, Thor, and surprisingly Alina, she couldn't get drunk off of mortal alcohol either. Once everyone had gone home, the Avengers began to retire as well or pass out where they were. Alina was in the process of taking Bruce back down to their floor.
"Alina, would you like some help with Banner?" Thor asked.
"Oh no, I don't want to trouble you," Alina said as she heaved Bruce off the couch.
"Nonsense, it is no trouble at all."
Thor walked over and easily swepted Bruce up into his arms. They walked into the elevator and Alina pressed the number to their floor. Once they got there, Alina led the way to Bruce's room. Thor put Bruce down on the bed while Alina took his shoes off, she covered him up with his blanket then led Thor out of the room.
Thor reached out, taking Alina's hand, "May I escort you to your floor?"
"Well, actually I share this floor with Bruce, my room is just down the hall. Tony thought since Bruce and I are best friends, we'd be alright sharing a floor. Which is fine with me, I wouldn't feel comfortable with a floor to myself.
Thor nodded, "May I escort you to your door, then?"
She smiled up at Thor, "I'd like that very much."
They walked down the hall, once they got to her door Alina turned around to face Thor.
"Thank you, Thor, I had a wonderful time with you, though I think I took up all of your time."
"He smiled down at her. "I did not mind at all, there was no one else I would have rather spend time with than you."
Thor brought his hand up to caress her cheek, he glanced briefly at her lips, "May I kiss you, Alina?"
A smile crossed her lips, "I would like that."
Thor beamed at her, he slowly lowered his head towards her still caressing her cheek. He tilted his head slightly and pressed his lips to hers. Suddenly an electrical current ran up and down their spines. Thor brought his both hands around her waist, pressing her into his body. Alina wound her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Their lips moving in perfect sync, they finally broke away from each other with a sigh.
"Wow." whispered Alina.
"Indeed." Thor agreed. He leaned down and kissed her again, he had never felt anything so divine in his life and he wanted more. His hand began to wander lower, Alina caught his hand before he could caress her ass. She pulled away from him then pecked him on the lips.
She sighed, "Goodnight, Thor."
Thor placed his forehead to hers, "Goodnight, Alina."
Kissing her once more, he let her go and walked down the hall towards the elevator. Alina leaned up against her door, she ran her finger along her lips, still feeling the tingle of his kiss. She opened her door, stepped in and shut the door.
A smile spread across Thor's lips as he got into the elevator, yes he was definitely glad to be back.
