A/N: I just want to take a second to thank everyone for all the nice comments on the last chapter :) You guys are the best! Alright, that's it, let's get going!

Chapter Seven

"So," Tony asked, hopping over the back of the couch and settling next to Bruce, "What's in the box for tonight?"

Alice smiled, clutching her newly wrapped Movie Night Suggestion Box to her chest. The second night was looking to be as much of a success as the first. Clint wasn't with them (still on his self-imposed "vacation") and Sam was gone this week, but Maria had decided joined them, which was a nice surprise. It was incredibly rare to see her outside of work, much less in sweats and sharing a box of popcorn with Nat. Klara was sitting with Thor, looking pleased and alert despite having spent most of the week being poked and prodded by Bruce and Tony. They had gotten a lot of base data, but it would take some time to process, leaving them all free for movie night. Steve hadn't made it yet, but he had assured her that he would be there, and to start without him if he was running late.

Alice shook the box and then tore open the top.

"JARVIS?"

"Thor of Asgard."

The Asgardian prince looked as if he'd just been given the greatest honor in the Nine Realms. He stuffed his hand into the offered box with unbridled enthusiasm, swirling the random pieces of paper and drawing one with excited anticipation.

"Ah!" he said, handing it to Alice, "Is this one of those Midgardian animal films? A documentary, perhaps?"

The paper said "Reservoir Dogs".

"Yes!" Tony exclaimed, pumping both fists in the air, "Tarantino is a god! I mean, not literally, of course. Unless...is he?"

"I have not heard of this Tarantino," Thor answered, and Tony's face fell just a little bit, "But I am sure any Midgardian playwright that meets with Tony Stark's approval must be a fine man indeed."

"You might wait until you've seen the movie before you pass that judgment," Maria said, tossing a handful of popcorn in her mouth.

"You shut your face, Hill," Tony said, pointing an accusing finger back over the couch at her, "I will hear no bad word spoken of the great Quentin Tarantino under my roof!"

"JARVIS, are we ready?" Alice asked, "I don't want a fight to break out before we even start."

"I agree, Miss Ripley," JARVIS said, "Ready when you are."

"Hit the lights."

Alice again wriggled in between Bruce and Tony, stealing the popcorn and Tony's drink from his hand with no resistance. She was still a little pissed at him for helping Bruce keep such a monumental secret, but the guy had been 'apologizing' to the best of his ability for three days: ribbing her slightly less than usual, taking her out for her flying practice while Clint was gone, giving her first dibs on his snacks. Alice had to admit that she was coming around, but she planned to milk it at least through tonight.

As the opening credits started, the door clicked open and Steve slipped inside.

"Hey man, great timing, you were about to miss one of the best movies of all time!" Tony said.

"Oh really?" Steve asked, flopping onto a nearby couch, "Better than Casablanca?

"Goddamnit, Cap, why'd you have to bring Bogey into this?" Tony asked, sounding miffed, "You know that man is in a category all his own."

"Just assessing the terrain," Steve said, glancing around, "Did I miss the popcorn?"

"Seriously, are you guys gonna talk through this whole movie?" Nat asked.

That shut them up, though Steve still looked disappointed by his lack of popcorn. Alice was about to offer him some of hers when she sensed movement in the dim light. Klara appeared on completely silent feet, a bag of popcorn and a drink in her hands. She touched Steve's shoulder, and he jumped, then blinked as Klara wordlessly pressed the food and drink into his hands.

"I...thanks."

Klara dipped him a small curtsy and left as silently as she had come, slipping through the shadows back to Thor's side. The Asgardian grinned at the girl and draped his arm with a sense of protective pride. Klara didn't seem to notice. She sat very straight in her seat, hands clasped in her lap, eyes fixed on the screen. Alice rolled her eyes and settled back into Bruce's side.

It actually wasn't a terrible movie. Alice didn't even see all the twists coming, and even though the end was gory and a little depressing, it could have been worse, for a Tony-movie. It wasn't until she saw Klara standing to leave without a word, almost running from the room, that she realized...and suddenly she was so pissed at Tony she could have kicked him. Of all the movies to put in, he had to pick the one with a 'traitor-in-their-midst, everybody-dies' theme. Was he playing some kind of bullshit game?

Thor made his apologies and followed Klara out. For a second it looked like Steve might go too, but at the last minute, he changed his mind. Alice turned to glare at Tony, who looked completely baffled.

"What was that?" he asked, "The blood, you think?"

Alice gaped at him, and then rubbed her forehead, where she could feel a headache forming.

"Jesus," she muttered, "You really are a complete idiot."

"What?" he asked, still looking genuinely confused, "What did I do now?"

"Really?" Steve asked, looking skeptical, "A team betrayed from the inside? You don't have any idea what might have upset her?"

"Well, if I-" It hit him then. Alice could see it hit him like a drink to the face. "-oh."

"Yeah," Alice said, "Oh."

"Jesus, Stark, even I have more tact," Nat said, rolling to her feet and stretching like a cat, "I mean, I don't necessarily like her, but we gotta work together. Maybe go a little more subtle with the jabs to her integrity next time?"

"No, wait, I didn't even mean it!" Tony insisted, "I swear! I'll just go tell her I didn't mean-"

"I wouldn't go telling her anything tonight, Stark," Steve said, getting up to follow Nat, "But tomorrow? I would suggest an apology if you can manage to get that past your ego."

Maria didn't say anything, just rolled her eyes and followed Steve, leaving Alice, Tony, and Bruce alone in the rec room. Tony buried his face in his hands and groaned.

"Damn it," he said, "We were just starting to get somewhere with the numbers too."

Bruce rolled his eyes and got up, holding out his hand for Alice.

"God, Tony, is everything about you?" he asked.

And with that, they left Tony behind to mope.

"He didn't mean anything by it."

Klara stopped at the door to her room, her fingers on the handle. She did not look up, though she could hear Lord Thor's approach. She could not bear to look at him.

"Didn't he?" she asked, barely able to keep the tremor from her voice, "Perhaps not intentionally, no. But there is some part of him...of all of them..."

She broke off and shut her eyes, forcing her tears aside. She felt Lord Thor's hand on her shoulder, large and warm, solid and comforting.

"You are not their enemy, Klara," he said, "They will learn to see it, in time. You must have faith in them."

Klara swallowed past the lump in her throat and looked up. He was smiling at her so kindly. Far too kindly. If he knew the secret she kept from him, the secret that would end whatever familiar camaraderie they now shared...the secret she was too afraid to tell. There was too much in her life, in both their lives, that was unfamiliar. She could not bear to sacrifice this on the altar of honesty. Perhaps she never would.

"Good night, my lord." She dipped him a curtsy, proper for one of her station to a prince of the Nine Realms, and retreated to her room.

Alice didn't sleep well that night, plagued by more nightmares, things that hadn't happened, of gods and monsters...

Hello again, Miss Ripley...

She was up before Bruce, a rarity in their lives. She dressed and went up to the penthouse kitchen for a bowl of cornflakes. Nat was at the table sipping a cup of coffee, but only nodded in acknowledgment of Alice's presence, not even looking up from her phone. Alice wasn't sure if she would have preferred more interaction with the super-spy or not. Even in sweats and a tank top Natasha Romanov was, without a doubt, the scariest person Alice had ever met. And Alice had met the god of mischief bent on conquering the Earth. She sprinkled some sugar over her cornflakes and sat on the opposite end of the table.

After about twenty minutes, the elevator chimed and Thor stepped out, making a beeline for the cabinet where the Poptarts were kept. He was alone.

"Where's Klara?" Alice asked, slurping the milk out of her bowl in an attempt to sound casual.

"I chose not to disturb her this morning," Thor said, not looking up to meet her eyes, focusing on the toaster instead.

Alice made a noncommittal 'hmm' and finished her cereal. She wasn't sure how she should feel about that. She never really knew how she should feel about Klara. Ever since the Dungeon, she couldn't help the tiny twinge of resentment when she thought about how poised the girl had been when faced with the thing that by rights should have been Alice's burden to bear. Logically, she understood it, of course. It made sense that Klara should be the one to face the Hulk. But still...still...

"...back in Queensland..."

Alice got up, put her bowl in the sink, and headed for the elevator, pressing the button for Thor's floor.

Klara was considering staying in bed for the rest of the day. There was nothing to prevent her. She had heard Lord Thor's quiet, unobtrusive knock upon her door, but she had ignored it. He had left without any other prompting, and she knew he would not disturb her again.

Which was why it was such a surprise to hear another, more insistent knock. She frowned and called out "Just a moment!" before she even considered that she could easily have ignored this prompting as well. Too late now. She rolled to her feet and padded across the floor, opening the door a crack. Alice Ripley stood in the hallway, shifting from foot to foot in a pair of worn jeans, athletic shoes, and a thick, hooded tunic which proclaimed 'My other shirt is also a hoodie'.

"Hi," the girl said, giving a little wave, "I thought we might take off for the day."

Klara stared at her blankly for another few moments before she realized what a mess she must look with her hair in a state, her rumpled sleepwear, her bare feet.

"Oh," was all she managed to say, before her manners trumped her embarrassment and she opened the door the rest of the way, "Please, come in."

The girl stepped inside without hesitation, looking around Klara's room with interest.

"Nice view," she said, indicating the large windows which were just now opening automatically to the mid-morning sun, "Bruce and I have a westward suite, so we don't get the sunrise. I'm alright with that, considering how late he gets in some nights. We're not usually early risers."

"I apologize that I am not more adequately prepared for guests," Klara said, tidying some random bit of flotsam on her dressing table and smoothing at her flannel tunic and leggings, "I fear my understanding of Midgardian time can sometimes get confused and-"

Alice was already waving away her protests, settling cross-legged into one of the cushioned chairs as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"No worries," she said, "I was antsy, woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. I guess I should have called first, but...you know, I honestly didn't even think of it. I guess since we live in the same building, I think of us more like roommates than neighbors."

She smiled again, gripping her ankles and rocking a bit, the morning light catching the bobble on her wrist. Klara had never seen her without it, a twisted braid of leather straps holding two golden bands together. Klara's hand unconsciously lifted to the silver chain at her collarbone but paused before she could complete the movement, moving her fingers to her hair instead, trying to smooth it down.

"I fear I might keep you from your plans today, Alice."

"No plans," Alice said, rocking back to inspect the ceiling, "Just thought we could take care of some errands, get out of the Tower for a while. You said you needed new shoes, right?"

Klara balked. Oh...her training. Would Captain Rogers...? Would he still...?

"You are not their enemy, Klara."

Lord Thor's voice echoed in her head. She looked at Alice, sitting expectantly before her, that perpetual smile on her face. Did Alice think she was an enemy? She couldn't imagine it to be so. But Alice had also proven herself, time and again, to be the outlier, the one that did not do as others did. What would Darcy say...a 'free-spirit'? Yes, that fit Alice Ripley very well. But it also made it unlikely that any of the others felt the same as she did, which was a discouraging thought.

Klara blinked and realized Alice was still waiting for an answer.

"Yes," she said, drawing herself up and clasping her hands behind her to solidify her resolve, "I do need new shoes."

After all, even if Captain Rogers did not choose to continue her training himself, she could still practice on her own. And showing up for training in sandaled or slippered feet did not sound like something one generally did.

"Great!" Alice said, "Then get dressed, something for the city. No offense but, do you even own a pair of jeans?"

Klara could not help her flinch of distaste.

"I like to be comfortable," she said, "The material you Midgardians call "denim" is stiff and limits mobility. One cannot even perform a proper curtsy in it."

Alice seemed to consider this, then shrugged. "Fair point. But if you have any Midgardian clothes, it might work out better. You don't exactly blend in."

She grinned with what Klara might have called genuine kindness. She could not help but return the expression and found that she felt lighter for it.

Once they were out of the Tower and walking the city, Klara discovered, to her surprise, she was actually enjoying herself. Alice was not like Darcy Lewis, in that she did not like to spend an inordinate amount of time in shops. She liked to go in, try things until something fit, purchase, and move on, her unflappable enthusiasm pulling her ever onward and tugging Klara in her wake. She also was not a person who liked a lot of frills or fanciful bobbles, and so she did not try to force such things on Klara, for which she was very grateful. Darcy had very much been an advocate of what she called 'shopping therapy', in which one bought things to make one feel better. Klara did not understand it at all. She had never cared to have many possessions, even less so now that she was essentially in exile. She found Alice's low-pressure approach to shopping (what she liked to call 'get what you need and get out') an infinitely more pleasant experience.

"I guess we could have waited until Black Friday," Alice said, as they sat on a bench in Central Park, enjoying sausage meats and toppings on buns ('hot dogs' though Alice assured her there was not, in fact, any canine present in the meat, as far as she knew), "The deals would have been better, but the crowds are a bitch. The way I see it, Tony owes you after last night anyway, and we're using his money, so deals and crowds be damned!"

Klara chewed thoughtfully and surveyed their purchases, arrayed in colorful bags at their feet. She still wasn't fully apprised of Midgardian monetary value (she was under the impression that it was quite complicated and varied greatly by region, which was baffling to her), but she now imagined that what they had amassed today was worth quite a sum. She had not considered it while they were in the midst of it, but now she wondered...

"Will he be very upset?" she asked.

Alice snorted.

"He won't even realize it's missing. This little piece of plastic-" She held up the thing Klara knew to be a 'credit card'. "-it's got no limit. That's what he considers 'living expenses'. That's actually what he called it! He's such an ass."

The girl shook her head and tucked the card back in her pocket.

"Hell, he'll probably just be thrilled that I'm using it. He's always telling me to, like his money's got an expiration date on it or something."

"Perhaps it is his way of showing that he cares for your well-being," Klara said, "Making sure you are provided for."

Alice rolled her eyes and swallowed her bite of sausage.

"I can provide for myself," she said, "In fact, I tried to, but everybody got their panties in a twist about it. Said it was 'dangerous'-" She did quote motions in the air with her fingers. "-with everyone knowing where I live and who I live with. Not that I'm all that much safer in the Tower, turns out."

She was touching her wrist, pressing the gold bands into her skin, but then she seemed to realize she was doing it and dropped her hands.

"So they started trying to keep me busy," she said, shrugging, "First with school, and now flying on top of that. Not that I mind all that much, I guess. I like flying, and the nursing will make me useful at least."

"They must care about you very much," Klara said, suddenly feeling the loss of those who might have made similar provisions for her... Daven... Lady Frigga...

Elli...

"Some days I think I could do with them caring just a little bit less," Alice said. She was smirking, but her tone spoke of a long-held bitterness. "I was good at taking care of myself before, learning to make do, staying under the radar. I worry that all this high living's gonna make me lose my edge, you know?"

Klara wasn't sure she did know. Once you had such assurances, why would you ever want to return to living without them? It was a puzzle and something of it must have shown on her face, because Alice rolled her eyes, though she didn't seem upset.

"No," she said, "I guess not. It's okay, most people don't get it. Bruce does, I think. It's hard to explain, but I think I've gotten used to waiting for the worst to happen. And it's weird, not running anymore."

She was gripping her wrist again, her gaze fading into the distance of her mind. Klara wondered what those bobbles meant to her. Would she ever work up the courage to ask? She touched the silver chain around her neck and knew she didn't dare.

Alice blinked and grinned, tossing her wrapper into a trash bin and picking some of the bags from the fitness store they had visited earlier.

"Come on," she said, "We can still check out the bathing suits and maybe pick up a couple of pizzas on our way back. That oughta put everybody in a good mood."

Klara smiled and tossed her own wrapper, grabbing the rest of the bags. Lord Thor was quite fond of pizza, he would be very pleased if they returned with pizzas in tow.

A/N: I feel like this is the second angst-heavy chapter in a row...don't worry, next chapter will be better! I promise! :)