It had been a little over two weeks since Alex had talked to her brother Tony, it was also her birthday. She was twenty five today. She sat in the mirror and almost wanted to cry. She was happy in her life at this point but always assumed by twenty five she would have it all figured out and she still felt just as clueless as when she was eighteen.
She just took a deep breath though and began to fix her hair and makeup. She did a cute simple side bun and a simple classic but lightly smoky eye and like every year on her birthday she wore red lipstick. As Alex started to head to her closet to get dressed there was a knock on the door. Sighing and turning she went to it and answered knowing what to expect.
opening the door she heard Pepper exclaim "Happy birthday!" She was holding a small cupcake with a candle and a ton of balloons with a few gifts around her feet. "can I come in?" She asked with a smile.
"Yeah of course… Thank you so much…" She said as Pepper walked in with three men following her two carrying in flowers and the other collected the gifts and set them on the table. Once they sat everything down Pepper smiled and said "Thank you" cheerfully as they left.
Alex was shocked by everything "You didn't have to do all of this…"
"Of course I did… I was gonna throw a surprise party but found out you and Steve were gonna have a um… romantic night in together… So?" She asked raising her eyebrow "What are you two planning on doing tonight…"
She blushed "Just dinner…" She said not making eye contact as she played with a flower.
"You two always do that… What's so big about tonight where its bigger than a party…" She said sitting down.
Alex just sighed "Just we want to have a night by ourselves… private. We have dinner all the time but somehow its always interrupted or around everyone here. We just wanna… enjoy eachothers company. That's it." She said shrugging.
"Uh huh… You don't open up to me any more Alex…" Pepper said sighing "Every since you and Tony stopped talking were not as close… Are you mad at me to…I'm sorry if I upset you I just…"
Cutting her off Alex started "No, no! We're good I promise. I just… I've been talking to everyone less. It's been a rough two weeks."
"So if we're good will you tell me the truth about tonight…" She asked smiling.
Alex laughed "No…"
"So it's cool if I just pop in randomly tonight…" She asked laughing.
Looking down Alex laughed "No… Definitely not. We just really would like some privacy tonight."
"Oh my god… Are you two… You two are gonna… Oh my god." She said with her mouth dropping "Wait you two haven't yet…" She said even more shocked. "Wait, wait isn't he a…"
Alex sighed "Pepper… Please. Let's drop it. I'm not letting a word out about anything but if it helps you sleep well…" She just smiled and nodded "But you know nothing!"
"Oh my good… I promise haven't heard a word…" She said still looking surprised. "I had no idea you two were getting so serious… I mean this will be his first time Alex… That's very serious…."
Throwing on a white long sleeve figure hugging white dress she took a deep breath "I know… Pepper. I know it's only been like three weeks but… I'm really starting to fall for him. He's perfect." She said with her cheeks getting rosy.
"Well I'm happy for you…" She said walking over and giving her a hug. "Have fun tonight. Your still having a party though…" She said hugging her again but the hug was broken when Nick Fury can over the inter come.
"Please everyone who currently lives here as a resident report to the meeting room. Everyone else continue working and leave at three as normally scheduled."
"He probably was just talking about the Avengers…" Pepper said ignoring it till the intercom came over again.
"This includes Miss. Potts and Miss. Stark."
She laughed "It's like he's listening in on us…"
"Guess we should head that way…" She said slipping one her shoes "And please don't mention anything you know…"
Pepper nodded "My lips are sealed…" She said as they left the room and headed to the meeting room.
When they got there everyone was there including Thor so it must be big. Steve stood up when Alex walked in "Hello… Happy birthday." He said quietly while leaning down and kissing her cheek "You look stunning…"
"Thank you…" She said smiling. "Can you keep it down about my birthday? I don't want everyone to know."
He nodded "Of course not a problem."
Just then she went to turn and sit and almost ran into Tony "Shit…" She mumbled.
"Well hello to the birthday girl!" He exclaimed loudly.
Alex was taken aback by his breath "Have you been drinking?"
"So you don't talk to me for two weeks and that's the first thing you say to me?" He said annoyed.
She looked down "I'm not doing this…"
"Oh please." He said rolling his eyes "I just hope your birthday is peachy."
Alex just ignored him and sat down until Nick walked in "Everyone take a seat please… That means you Mr. Stark." He said seeing he was the only one standing. Tony then walked to the end of the table to the only seat left but kept an eye on Alex.
Nick then though a file down "Now that we're all sitting I have some news. Some of you aren't going to like it but I don't care." He started staying serious "Their will be a new resident joining you here. We have our reasons so NONE of you need to try and question or fight it. He's agreed to help and after a grueling process we found he was being honest about." He flipped the file open "Thor wanna take over from here…"
Thor nodded and stood up "Loki will be living here. They have took some precautions. He has this… device that limits his ability extremely. He will still have some power but very little and it will strain him to use it…"
Natasha then stood up "Why is he staying here? Is he gonna be locked up at least?"
He sighed "No. He will have his own personal room like all of you. He was one of the only people who could help us with… What may be in our future but he asked to be taken from Asgard prison and be free and my father refused to let he be a free man of Asgard so he has been taken here. He is as free as all of you here."
"This is bull shit!" Clint exclaimed "When in the hell will we even know why we're here?"
Nick then walked back over to Thor "When you need to. But Thor will be coming here more often to help as much as he can but if any of you attack or fight or attempt to hurt Loki I will put you in solitaire. Don't even threaten him. We need his help." He then turned to the door "Come in."
Just then Loki walked in "Hello." He said looking at everyone "Now I need one of you to show him to his room. I need to run and Thor knows nothing about this place. Decide amongst yourselves…Good bye. And no trouble." Nick said walking out.
Just then Clint and Natasha both walked out without saying anything except slamming the door. After they left Bruce left quietly. Tony sat at the table laughing. Thor sighed "Steve would you?"
"I… I'm sorry I cant." He then stood up to leave and looked to Alex "Are you coming…"She sighed and went to get up.
Thor looked to Tony "Tony, Pepper?"
Tony just laughed "Don't hold your breath. Congrats Your officially the most hated man now. Glad someone replaced me. I don't look so bad now." He said getting up "Let's go Pepper…" he said getting up and leaving.
Alex then turned "Loki… I'm Alex. I'll show you."
"What…" Steve then said turning to her "Alex you cant."
She sighed "I'll be fine… Go shower and relax for a bit Thor will be with us. I'll be fine. Please just trust me."
He looked back to Thor and Alex was unsure what was communicated between them but Thor just nodded. Steve looked to Alex "Fine. You do what you feel is right…I will see you tonight." He then kissed her and left.
"Thank you Miss. Stark." Thor said nodding. "I'm very grateful, as is Loki."
She smiled "Not a problem…"
"Happy birthday also." Thor said with a smile.
"Thank you Thor. So Loki did they give you anything so I can find your room…" She said turning to him realizing he was much taller then she thought. He nodded and handed her a file and remained quite. She could tell he was uncomfortable. She wasn't sure if it was Thor or being here with a bunch of people he had tried to destroy. Opening she nodded "You're actually right down the hall from me… I will just show you there on my way back to my room…"
He nodded as they all three left the room. They were all quite as they walked, when Alex got to her room she pointed to the door "This is me if you ever need anything…" She continued walking down the hall "And this should be you… She said opening the folder and grabbing his key card and swiping it and opening the door. "Here you are…" She said as they walked in "Its pretty nice they have everything you could need here… And this is your key for your room." She said handing him the card.
"Thank you Miss. Stark…" Thor said nodding.
Loki nodded "Miss. Stark… Any relations to Mr. Stark?"
"I'm his little sister…" She said sighing.
He nodded "Glad to see I'm not the only little sibling they have decided needs babysitting."
"Loki…" Thor growled.
Alex laughed "Thor he's fine. I came here by choice. Not to be baby sat."
"Did you come here with the Captain?" He asked curious.
She shook her head "No. I met him when we got here…"
"Loki I don't see where any of this concerns you." Thor said annoyed.
She sighed "Thor he's fine. But I am here now with Steve if that's what you wanted to know. But I should go and let you settle in. If you need anything feel free to ask. Also if you need help finding something or a tour feel free to ask." She said with a smile "It was lovely seeing you Thor and very nice to meet you Loki."
"It was very nice to meet you to Miss. Stark…" He said smiling as she left and Thor nodded keeping his glare on Loki as she left and returned to her room.