Disclaimer: I own nothing, I just use the characters for my own twisted uses! Mwahahahaha!
Thor's brow creased in confusion. It had been nine months since the Bifrost had been fixed, and he had initially thought Jane had been happy to be with him. But in the past few months, she had changed. She wasn't at the lab anymore when he returned from missions, so he checked her apartment, but she wasn't there either. When she eventually returned, she was flushed and warm, and had to shower before she settled down for the night. When he had asked her about it, she had been evasive, and dodged the question. Thor was worried. But when he held her in his arms at night, she snuggled into him as if nothing had changed, and he could forget about all of it, until the next night when she didn't come home from work on time. Tonight was no different. Walking around the empty apartment, Thor felt lost without her. He sat on the couch and turned on the TV, trying to lose himself in some mindless show about orange people on a shore somewhere. Just after ten, the latch finally clicked, rousing him from the sleepy stupor he had drifted into, and Jane entered the apartment.
'Hi!' She smiled at him, delight on her face. She bounded across the room and planted herself in his lap. 'When did you get back?'
'This afternoon.' Thor smiled, her enthusiasm was infectious. He kissed her deeply, sealing her to him with his lips. Pulling back, something flashed in her eyes that he couldn't quite catch, but then it was gone. 'Where were you?' He asked quietly, looking down a little. Jane tilted his chin and looked into his eyes.
'With friends.' She stated quietly, then kissed him on the nose. 'I gotta shower.' She bounded off, leaving a confused Thor on the couch.
Thor took a deep breath and stepped into the small office that Darcy occupied. Darcy looked up, surprised.
'Thor! What are you doing here?' She indicated a stool, which Thor declined.
'I need to ask you something.'
'Shoot.' Darcy sensed the seriousness, and removed her glasses to watch him. Thor shifted, and Darcy waited, then realised he was nervous. 'Is everything ok?' Thor looked up, his eyes pained.
'I do not know what I have done. But it is what she wants. In another life, I may have crushed the man who takes what is mine, but now…is she happy with him?' Darcy looked at him, confusion and shock written over her face. Her mouth opened and closed as she tried to make sense of what he was saying to her.
'What?' She eventually managed.
'Jane. I have spoken to Stark and Banner, and they have informed me that she has moved on to another, and I will not stand in her way if that is her choice.' Thor's strong voice belied the pain in his eyes. Darcy's mouth worked for a few more minutes, shock slowing her reactions as she realised what he was talking about. Then, to Thor's utter amazement and chagrin, she burst out laughing. She laughed for a good while, eventually subsiding into giggles.
'You think she has another guy? That's dumb, Thor, really dumb.' Darcy took pity on him, and walked around her desk. Placing a hand on his cheek, looked him in the eyes. 'It's only ever been you for her, no-one else. Believe me, she is not with anyone else. And you can tell that to those two cretins in Stark Tower as well. With another guy, really? That's their relationship advice? Dumb, totally dumb. This is why men are the weaker species.' Thor watched, his amusement growing as Darcy continued to rant, half to herself. She perched on the edge of her desk and folded her arms. 'Tell you what, tonight, I will take you to her. And get those jerks to come too. I'll show you what she gets up to at night. Another guy heh!' Darcy returned to her work, giggling, and Thor realised their conversation was finished. He left the office, only to have Darcy hang out the door after him. 'I'll come get you at seven!'
Thor waited nervously. The other avengers had got wind of the expected trip, and now all of them were seated around a circular table in a sumptuous bar. Pepper had joined them, and had practically had to pin Tony down to stop him saying anything about the location. Bruce's eyebrows had raised, and Barton had coughed, which suspiciously sounded like a laugh. Thor didn't understand why. It was just a bar. Steve, for once, actually looked at home. Darcy sat next to him, smiling slightly as Thor took in the scene.
'Not what you expected?' She asked, as his eyes followed the draping fabric of the stage.
'Not at all. What is this place?' Tony opened his mouth, then jumped as if something had been slammed on his foot really hard. Pepper feigned innocence.
'It's a speakeasy.' The voice that answered was Steve's. 'We had these when I was training. They were great fun, usually came with a floor show. Course, we had cigarette girls walking around too, but the basic idea is the same. Kinda feels like coming home.' He leaned back, taking a deep breath. Darcy smiled at him, her eyes dancing. A piano started a vamp rhythm as a snare drum kept a light time, and all eyes turned expectantly towards the empty stage.
'Speaking of the floor show.' She breathed as the stage curtains parted, and three figures strutted onto the stage, dragging chairs behind them. Wolf whistles erupted around them, two from Steve and Tony, who were really getting into it. Placing their chairs with their backs to the audience, the three dancers extended their long legs and straddled the chairs, their arms straight out over the back and their heads bowed. A more complicated drum beat kicked in, and their fingers snapped to the music. Single white spotlights on each of them made their glossy hair shine, and sparkled off the middle girl's trilby. Each girl wore glossy black hold ups, topped with lace garters, the two girls at the back accentuated with purple ribbon, the one in front with crimson. A small black frilly skirt covered the back two girls' modesty, and they wore black corsets, all interspersed with purple. In their hair they had purple feathers and jewels that sparkled in the light. The front girl wore a small black skirt too, trimmed with red, and her corset was a deep red satin that caught the light and glistened. The lead girl's head snapped up, and Thor's mouth dropped open in shock as Jane began to sing.
I'm in a little bit of trouble
And I'm in real deep
From the beginning to the end
He was no more than a friend to me
The thought is makin' me hazy
I think I better sit down
Cause like the sweetest serenade
Bet he knows he's got it made with me
She looked around at the audience with a sultry smile as the girls behind her clicked, her gaze finally settled on the middle table of avengers, and her eyes widened imperceptibly. The gathered avengers watched avidly, some with shock, others with amusement, but Thor couldn't take his eyes off her. As the girls behind started to dance, the Jane sat sideways on the chair, crossing her long legs and showing off her crimson stilettos. Propping her elbow on the back of that chair, she sang to the crowd as if she were sharing secrets. All three girls stood up and swung their legs over their chairs, turning quickly and placing their hands on the seat. Bending their knees, their hips moved.Twisting round on a carousel
This speeds' too much to stop
One second I'm thinkin' I'm feeling the lust
And then I feel a lot
The girls twirled again, standing in front of the chairs, twisting their hips and flicking their hands.
Ooh that man is like a flame
And ooh that man plays me like a game
My only sin is I can't win
Ooh I wanna love that man
Ooh that man is on my list
And ooh that man I wanna kiss
My only sin is I can't win
Ooh I wanna love that man
The girls dropped to the floor and pushed out their bums as they stood, dragging out the movement to a slow grind, and finished the chorus with a shimmy of their chests. Jane fixed her eyes on Thor, took a deep breath, and walked the few steps down to the bar floor towards him.
Now it's like I'm on a mission
Headed everywhere
And if it takes a little long
And it feels a little wrong who cares?
Thor leaned back as she balanced a knee on his thigh, her body higher than his, and looked down into his face, her hands framing his smirking face. The other avengers watched chuckling as she sang to him, running her hands over his shoulders. Her hands travelled up, through her hair, finally meeting her trilby, which she removed and dropped on Thor's head.My baby fits the description
And does it easily
A little Gable, some Astaire
When he dances I can hardly breathe
Getting up abruptly, she ran around the table and threw her arms around Bruce's shoulders, playfully acting the helpless woman. Bruce grinned and turned his head to watch her on his shoulder, as Thor's eyes followed every move she made.Someone call a doctor
Need some help to rescue me
One second I'm thinkin' I must be lost
And he keeps on findin' me
She grabbed Steve's hands and pulled him up to dance, throwing them both into a jive that Steve recognised. Turning her expertly, he grinned as she laughed with him, enjoying the dance purely for the fun of it.
Ooh that man is like a flame
And ooh that man plays me like a game
My only sin is I can't win
Ooh I wanna love that man
Ooh that man is on my list
And ooh that man I wanna kiss
My only sin is I can't win
Ooh I wanna love that man
Breaking away, she ran up the steps and grabbed the silver mike that had appeared.
Pa da pip pab pa da pa
Dib e dib da pa da pa
Ba da da pip pab pa da da
Da ba dub dib dib pu du pa
Bu du dib dub dib da do to do
Dub e dub do wo do do do
Pib pab pa da tow
Du da tu da dow
Dub dub dub udu dub dow
Ooh, I'm gonna find that man
Dub du dub dub du du dub
You bet ya, I'm gonna find that man
Dub dub dub dub du
Ooh, I'm gonna find that man
Dub dub dub dub du dubu
I'm gonna find that, I'm gonna find that man, mmm
The girls stepped in time to the music, their hips winding. Jane locked eyes with Thor and smirked at him as she wound the song down.Pa da dub dub dub to to
I'm gonna find that man
(Ooh that man is like a flame
And ooh that man plays me like a game
My only sin is I can't win)
Ooh I wanna love that man
Ooh that man is on my list
And ooh that man I wanna kiss
My only sin is I can't win
Ooh I wanna love that man
As the trumpets carried on, Jane and the girls slowly strutted offstage, dragging their chairs. Jane dumped her chair in the wings, then rolled out, her back to the stage frame, slid down it seductively, and stepped offstage, her hand beckoning slowly as the trumpets died.
The bar erupted in wolf whistles and cheers, the audience on their feet for the performance. Thor sat, his mind reeling from what he had just seen. Darcy grinned as she watched him, then took pity on him and grabbed his arm.
'Come on lover boy, let's go.' Thor looked up at her and they left quietly, leaving the others to enjoy the show. Out in the cool night air, Darcy let go of Thor's arm and looked at him. 'You ok?' Thor nodded. A long moment passed.
'This is what she does? Every night?'
'She started out with classes, I think just as a way to relieve any tension she was carrying, but she fell in love with it. She performs practically every night now. She's really good, a favourite.' The door opened again, and Steve appeared.
'Everything ok?' He asked, worriedly looking from one to the other, Darcy patient, Thor almost punch drunk. Darcy sighed.
'Fine. Thor just needs a few moments to get his head clear.' The stage door banged, and Jane darted out, a hooded jacket thrown over her corset. She stopped abruptly, staring at Thor, who stared back at her. Steve took Darcy's hand, gently tugging her back inside and leaving them to it.
Jane, her chest heaving and her face flushed, stared at Thor. Realising what she must look like, she patted her hair nervously.
'I look-'
'You were incredible tonight.' Thor interrupted her and she froze, uncertainty on her face. 'And you look beautiful.' Jane smiled and stepped towards him.
'You liked it? Really?' Thor chuckled as his arms snaked around her waist and pulled her into his body.
'Absolutely.' His gaze smouldered as he lowered his head to hers, and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. She gasped, and he took advantage of it to slip his tongue inside her mouth, searching for hers and stroking along the side of it. She wound her fingers in his hair as she licked along his teeth, and then captured his bottom lip with her teeth, dragging it through her teeth as the kiss ended.
'Let's go home.' She whispered huskily. Thor nodded, and they hailed a cab.
AN: The song used in this is called That Man, by Caro Emerald. Couldn't resist making Thor wear a trilby lol, he would look so hot in one! BTW, I know that Steve's love is Peggy, and I do love that pairing, but by now she would be an old lady, and I kinda like the idea of Darcy and Steve - she's nothing but fun, he's the stoic straight laced type. I think they would work well together. So flame me if you like, but *blows raspberry*