The Party:
The moment they arrived at the Avenger's Tower, Thora and Una took the sceptre and went inside to their own private quarters whilst the doctors and Natasha wheeled Clint inside and Steve went to have a conversation with Maria Hill about Stricker.
Thora and Una's quarters were a large room with two beds and a metal storage for their weapons and their armour.
"I am telling you Thora, we cannot let Tony near that thing,"
"You're not telling me you dislike him,"
"Yes! I dislike him!" Una panted out. "You should have seen egotistical he was after Coulson was killed and we thought you were dead. He called you an 'idiot' for trying to fight against Loki,"
Thora gazed at her with a dark look. Tony Stark calling her an 'idiot'?
"Get what I mean? He's so egotistical that he thinks he can handle this sceptre. But the truth is he can't be trusted with stuff like this. So no I'm letting him use that sceptre,"
Footsteps approached and the cousins turned to see Tony walk in without invitation.
"So, are you going to let me use this sceptre,"
"I'm going with my cousin on this Stark. I can't let you take the sceptre," Thora declared.
"Come on girls! With this sceptre, this could be a huge breakthrough in our defence system,"
"Stuff like this should be tampered with," Una stated. "Remember how S.H.I.E.L.D tampered with the Tesseract, it led to Loki arriving on Earth and so led the Attack on New York. We cannot take that chance that it might happen again,"
"Sorry Stark but I'm trusting my cousin's judgement on this," Thora declared as well. Before Stark could interject, she interrupted. "And don't even think about saying what I know you're goanna say the answer is 'no',"
"It's going back to Asgard," Una stood up and walked towards Tony making him back out of their room. "End of discussion," she shut the door on him.
She leaned against the door and waited until she heard footsteps retreated away. As she stepped towards Thora, she heard another set of footsteps and was about to lash out at Tony to go away when it was Banner this time who came in.
"If you won't trust Stark, at least trust me," Banner implored as he came in. "Look girls, I know that you two don't want to risk this sceptre, this magic that it has inside causing damage, but think of how defensible earth could be, if we tried adapting Tony's robots using Strucker's technology developed from this sceptre and the sort of intelligence and mind neurons that were used to control people on Earth by Loki, Earth will not have to worry about an alien ever again,"
"How can you two know for certain that it's not just goanna go haywire?" Thora questioned. This technology, this power provided protection for an enemy. It could do more harm, if you turn it into a weapon,"
"Only if used by bad dudes. We're the good guys remember?" Bruce reminded them.
"Yeah we are. And Stark is basically using these machines to replace us. Earth's defence would never be the same again if you just relied on robots," Una said doubtfully. "What if someone hacked their systems and turned them against Earth? Did you two ever think of that?"
"Yeah. We did," Bruce answered a little awkwardly. "But we didn't want to think about it,"
The girls still weren't convinced.
"At least, consider it," Banner walked away, leaving the girls to decide.
The girls thought and through for hours. Una looked at her cousin and saw a certain change in her face.
"No Thora!" Una knew what that look meant. "Absolutely not!"
"I don't trust Stark with it but at least Banner can be trust with it," Thora pointed out. "Let's let them use the sceptre until the party. Then after that it can be returned to Asgard where it belongs. I promise you cousin…" she placed her hands-on Una's shoulders. "...that I do trust your judgement, and that I don't want this sceptre causing any harm, but if it might help our team make better defences for planet earth for a time when we're not around, then it has to be considered. Who knows what other galaxy threats are out there that might threaten Earth and the Avengers and even S.H.I.E.L.D might not be enough to defend it.
Her cousin sighed, looking down. "Okay," she reluctantly agreed, looking back up at her. "But if this goes wrong, I'm goanna kill those two,"
They took the centre to a large lab where they saw Stark and Banner already eying them as if expecting them to come.
"We've considered what you said Banner and we'll let you and Stark use it," Thora handed the case to Banner.
"Yes. Yes," Tony cheered.
"But if this goes bonkers, it's on you Stark," Una interrupted.
"You two are only having it until the party," Thora declared. "And that's it. It goes back to Asgard,"
"Agreed," Banner answered. "Right Tony?"
Tony didn't answer. He just gazed at the sceptre as if its blue gem put him in a sort of trance.
"Tony," Bruce elbowed him.
Tony looked at the girls and saw how serious they were. "Agreed," he answered.
"I'm keep an eye on you Stark," Una gave him the eye-on-you gesture and the two girls left the lab with Una prying her eyes on Tony until they disappeared.
Over the next few days, whilst Tony and Bruce worked with the sceptre, the girls spent the time away playing games and trying out cool activates that Jesse had introduced to Thora. Thora, of course made occasional visits back to Jesse. They gladly invited Una along, since she would only be around on Earth for a few days. Una was very happy to become closer to Jesse as a friend but she took precausion to keep her word and keep a close eye on Stark and Banner as they worked in the lab, mainly Stark. Banner she somewhat trusted more seemed more careful compared to Tony so Banner wasn't given a cold glare like his lab partner, and this made him feel comfortable.
On the morning of the big Avenges party, Thora began to want to question her about Asgard. After a quick breakfast with thier team, they retired to thier quarters for some alone time and she decided to start the subject. "Interested to tell me anything that's happening back in Asgard?"
"Just parties that happen every night," Una answered.
"And…" Thora started again for her.
Una wouldn't answer. "Don't worry about me Thora, or what's happening aback home. Just be focused on your life on Earth here with Jesse,"
"Una…you're my family. It's my job to worry. Asgard always has and always will be my home. No matter what planet I'm on, no matter how far away I am from it. I promised Asgard the day I turned down its throne was that I would I would always be around to protect it and help it in any way I could,"
Una huffed and gave in. "It's your father. Ever since your father left, he holds parties every night, and doesn't seem to focus on protecting the Nine Realms, he's even begun wondering about Loki and how much his death affects him. This is unlike anything I've ever seen him done. He's just…different,"
Thora was dumbfounded by this disclosure. What had got into her father? What had happened to the king who would lay down his life for the good of the Nine Realms and the Universe? What had changed him? "I should go back,"
"No. Thora, just stay focused on your life here and your oath to protect the Nine Realms. Let Asgard take care of itself and its ecstatic king. When I return, I will see its states myself,"
Before Thora could refuse that request, Nat opened the door.
"Am I interrupting something?" she suddenly asked, judging from the circumstances.
"No!" Una quickly answered before Thora could kindly ask her to wait a bit longer.
"What do you girls say we go out for a pedicure?" Nat invited. "The party will be tonight s
"That would lovely. I've always wanted to try one," Thora answered excitedly, deciding to put aside Asgard's concerns for now.
"What's a pedicure?" Una asked.
"It's when you get your nails painted. Want to try it out?" Nat insisted.
Una nodded. There was so much on Planet Earth that she wanted to try out before coming home.
Together the three ladies went out to New York's nail centre and they had their nails, carved and shined and then painted. Nat's red, Thora's dark blue, Una's gold.
They next went out to buy some fancy short dresses. Black Widow bought a half white, half black short dress, Una's dressed was medium-lengthen and golden with sequences hanging all around and Thora's short marine dress was silk with a beaded collar and beaded belt.
"Wow you ladies are looking gorgeous," Nat complimented.
"Why thank you we quite like our gowns too," Thora grinned socially. "And don't you just look stunning yourself Nat,"
They next had lipstick painted on, their hair styled and some earrings added to complete their looks. Una's hair was down and wavy. Thora's was tied in a fancy bun and Nat's was curled. They arrived back at the Avenger's Tower and all the males went "Wow" at their appearances.
Guests began arriving at 7:00 and amongst them was Jesse in a black suit. He hung his mouth open as he saw Thora. "You're so pretty," he breathed out.
"Thanks and so do you," Thora pecked him on the lips and led him inside, along with Darcy and Ian who decided to come for the occasion since they hadn't seen Jesse or Thora in a long while. Darcy was wearing red and Ian was wearing a black suit like Jesse.
"Don't you two just look gorgeous," Una complimented with a smile as she greeted them.
"You're a golden glamour," Darcy flattered at Una's golden appearance. She was a ray of sunshine. "You look so pretty yourself Thora,"
"Why thank you Darcy?"
"Is marine your favourite colour?"
"Yep. Would green be your favourite colour by any chance?"
"Yes it would,"
"You boys are practically twins," Una gestured to the similar suits between Jesse and Ian.
"Yep I suppose we are," Ian answered a little clumsily.
"You must be Sam Wilson," Thora shook a brown man named Sam Wilson who was a friend of Captain America. "Steve has told us about you,"
"Is it true you can fly like a falcon?" Una asked as he shook he's.
"Yep. The answer's in the name," Sam pointed out. The group of five burst into laughter.
Soon the whole tower was filled to the brim with guests from generals to friends. There were laughing and drinking and playing games all evening.
A moment later, Tony Stark's friend Rhodey aka the War Machine arrived, and he began to entertain his friend, Maria, Thora and Jesse with a story of one of his previous heroics. "But you know the suit can take the weight, right? So I take the tank, fly it right up to the general's palace, drop it as his feet. I'm like 'Boom. You're looking for this?'
The group just stared at him.
Rhodey repeated himself. 'Boom. Are you looking for…' Why do I even talk to you guys? Everyone else that story kills
"That's the whole story?" Thora questioned.
"Yeah, it's a War Machine story,"
"Oh, then it's very good," she laughed. "Very impressive," she took a sip of her drip.
"So uh, no Pepper?" Rhodey asked Tony. "She's not coming?"
"No," Tony answered. "Such a pity. Would have loved it. But she had a company to run," He looked at Jesse. "You know what Jesse, I would have loved to have met your father Erik here,"
"Well his work on the Convergence has made her the world's foremost astronomer, you know how busy he gets with all his colleagues,"
"Well, the company that Pepper runs is the largest tech conglomerate on Earth. It's pretty exciting,"
"There's talk of Erik getting a um, Nobel Prize," Thora added in.
"Yeah. They must be so busy," Maria said.
"Where's your dad, might I ask?" Tony asked Jesse.
"He's in England giving out a lecture of astrophysics to a university. So sorry he couldn't be here,"
Maria suddenly coughed a bit. "Excuse. Mm-hmm,"
"Are you okay?" Thora asked.
Yeah. Just a testosterone," Maria answered still coughing a bit.
"Oh my goodness," Rhodey said. "Want a lozenge,"
Una was in another part of the room with Steve and Sam.
"Sounds like a hell of a fight," Sam said. "Sorry I missed it,"
"If I had know it was goanna be a firefight, I actually would have called," Steve assured him.
"Just kidding. I'm just trying to sound tough. I'm very happy chasing cold leads on our missing person's case. Avenging is your world. It's crazy,"
"Be it ever so humble," Steve answered.
"And what is your world Mr. Wilson?" Una asked curiously.
Sam didn't answer. Instead he said, "That is what I'm trying to work out. So tell me what's your Asgard like?"
"Well…it's huge, it's gold, recently it's been running parties every night. It's so ecstatic all the time, just like this place is,"
"So about you Steve?" Sam questioned the captain. "Found a place in Brooklyn yet,"
"I don't think I can afford a place in Brooklyn,"
"Well, home is home, you know?" Steve asked.
Jesse noticed some couples were dancing including Darcy and Ian and looked eager. "Want to dance?" he asked his girlfriend.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Thora smiled. She looked to Stark and Maria Hill. "Now if you will excuse us Stark, we have a dance to do,"
She put down her glass and allowed Jesse to pull her by the arm to the dance floor. Jesse gently press a hand against her hip as they turned to each other. They linked Jesse's left hand and Thora's right hand together and Thora placed her free hand on Jesse's other elbow. They smiled as they started moving and step backwards and forwards and spinning around.
Their friends watched them with admiration. Una held the brightest smile; she was so glad that Thora had found her man. She wished she could have call Fandrall to come down and join them, but she didn't want him to get into trouble.
"Just look at the happy couple," Tony observed as he joined Una's side, much to her discomfort.
"Keep your distance from me please,"
"Come on, just want to join in," Tony shrugged off. "What is it? That you have against me?"
"You're pompous. You think you know what you're doing. You like to mock other people like how you once called my cousin an 'idiot',"
"It was just a one time girl,"
Una didn't look at Tony.
Tony just ignored her and continued observing Thora and Jesse. "Can't wait to see them kiss," he spoke out without kissing.
Una frowned. "Stark," she hissed.
"I heard that!" Thora called over to him.
"Quite enhanced hearing," Tony whispered.
"I heard that too,"
The music ended and the couple joined Steve in with a group of older gentlemen.
"I've gotta have some of that," an old guest implored, noticing Thora was holding up a golden flask.
"Oh no, no, no," Thora shook her head. She clicked open the flask. "This…this was aged for 1000 years in the barrels built from the wreck of Grunhel's fleet. It is not meant for mortal men," she poured a few drops in.
"And neither was Omaha beach, blonde," "Stop trying to scare us. Come on,"
"Oh very well," Thora sighed. "Drink it. But don't say I didn't warn you,"
The drinker took a sip and then five minutes later he was being escorted outwards by two men. "Excelsior," he murmured in a dreary state. "Excelsior,"
"You definitely shouldn't have given him that," Jesse giggled
"Well I did warn him," Thora warned, wielding up a smile.
"Let me guess. You let him try that millennium year old liquid?" Una questioned as she joined them.
"Yep. And now he looks like he's living in a trance,"
The group observed all their friends and teammates talking with one another and their guests and a certain sight of Bruce and Nat at a bar caught their eyes.
"Ooh look at Nat and Bruce," Jesse sipped from his cup. "Looks like they're have a flirt on one another.
"You think there's something going on between Banner and Romanoff?" Thora asked.
Una looked beamed up. "Maybe. She's the one who always calms him down. I saw it so myself back at the basement. It likes they have a connection,"
"You and Banner are a thing right?" Una surprisedly asked Nat.
Nat turned to her. "No," she shrugged it off. "What makes you ask that?"
"I saw it Nat. That gleam you had your eyes as you looked. You're totalling digging with him," Una teased.
"We're just friends,"
"More than friends?"
"Stop," Nat requested persuasively. "Please?"
"Okay," Una lifted up her hands in surrender, and Nat poured her a drink.
"I just thought I saw a smile on Banner's face as he spoke to you when I saw you both,"
"Spying on us?' she asked, still pouring her drink and not looking at her.
"No. Just observed you along with Thora and Jesse. It was Thora who thought you and Banner were a thing.
"Well, we're not a thing,"
"Hear this piece of advice. Don't wait too long," Una advise. "Stop wasting time and tell him. You two are perfect. I can see that gleam in your eyes when you speak to him. I saw it back in Sokovia. If you have a thing for him, don't hold back and let it slip,"
Here it is another chapter. Hope you're all enjoying it. Please send in reviews and ideas. It would be most helpful.