The next morning I woke up to find Steve had stretched out on the bed, pushing himself up so his head was cushioned on my abdomen with one arm over my hips and the other arm stretched above his head so his fingers were tangled in my hair. I smiled at the adorable picture, stroking his hair softly. He shifted under my touch, turning his head so my hand caressed the side of his lightly-stubbled face. "Steven," I crooned. The Captain stirred slightly, lifting his arm over the edge of the bed so his hand was tucked into the curve of my waist. "Steven," I tried again, drawing out his name and ruffling his hair gently in an attempt to rouse him. Steve sighed heavily and his wonderful eyes fluttered open. As soon as he registered his surroundings, he bolted upright, slipping off the edge of the bed, making me laugh. "Good morning, Hero," I greeted affectionately. Steve panted in shock, looking around the room before staring up at me with wide, guilty eyes.
"Ellie! I am so, so sorry! I never… I mean, I didn't…" Steve shook his head helplessly, wrapping his arms around himself until he realised that I was giggling like a maniac. I sat forward to comb my fingers through his mussed hair.
"Steve; we talked, we fell asleep, that's all. There was absolutely nothing inappropriate in our interaction, Sweetie. I'm not upset at all. In fact, I'm really rather pleased that you feel so comfortable with me. You're not going to take it back now, are you?" Steve smiled with a relieved sigh, shaking his head.
"No, I do. I mean, I am comfortable… with you. Here… Not that I'm saying I need to be in your bedroom or…" I giggled again as Steve started getting flustered and he smiled, taking my amusement good-naturedly.
"You really have no idea how to talk to women, do you?" I asked, pushing my messy hair out of my face. Steve shook his head, looking down shyly. I bent over and pressed a kiss to the side of his forehead. "I need to get changed; go sort yourself out and I'll see you at breakfast. Off you go," I encouraged, nudging his shoulder gently. Steve nodded and pushed himself up, going to the door and opening it just as Tony walked out of his room across the hall. Both men froze and Tony shook his head.
"No way! You and Ellie?"
"Don't be daft, Tony!" I called out. "We were talking, we fell asleep, nothing more. You know I'm the marrying kind." Tony looked at me past Steve and nodded.
"Oh. Yeah, that makes more sense. Okay, see you both at breakfast," Tony said, heading off to go downstairs.
"Huh. He took that really well… That's not like Tony," Steve commented. "Is something wrong?" I sighed, rubbing my eyes.
"Yes, but I'm working on it," I replied. I looked up at Steve and smiled at his concerned expression, getting out of bed and walking towards him. "Don't fret, Captain. I'm a strong girl; I can take anything you guys throw at me," I told him cheerfully. "Now off you go." I shoved him playfully out of the room and closed the door, locking it so I could get dressed. Natasha came through our joining door while I was pulling on my shirt. "Hey, Natasha."
"Hey. I heard you with Steve last night," she commented. I looked at her, sweeping my hair back and starting to plait it. "I just wanted to tell you… I'm good with men. I mean; I've made a living from it, but what you did last night… what you do for these boys…" Natasha shook her head, pushing my hands away and plaiting my hair for me. "I couldn't do that. And I admire you for it." I smiled, looking at Natasha's reflection behind me in the mirror.
"Thanks, Tasha. But there are a lot of things you can do that I can't. I mean… being so seductive and everything… I don't have even half the confidence required for that! I'd feel so awkward… We've both got our strengths and weaknesses."
"True," Natasha agreed, tying off my hair. "Come on, then. Breakfast."
As we were all eating and talking in the kitchen, a roaring pillar of light appeared outside the window and the Asgardians reappeared. "Finally," I sighed, standing to open the door for them. Thor led the group inside. "Breakfast?" I offered. Thor shook his head.
"Not now, Ellie," he declined softly. "My friends, we have to talk."
"You look like hell," Clint commented dryly folding his arms.
"The rebellion has been chased from the castle," Thor informed us. "They are encamped on the outskirts of the realm. A war is brewing, not just between the rebellion and the kingdom, but between the nine realms. They know Asgard is torn, and they intend to take advantage of it."
"And we intend to…"I let the statement hang there, waiting for someone to continue my sentence. Thor looked around at us all with his kingly gaze before staring into my eyes intensely.
"We intend to reunite Asgard… and remove the false king by any means necessary."
"Assassins; you're up!" I drawled loudly, turning and flicking my gaze over Tasha, Clint and Bucky and jerking my thumb at Thor over my shoulder. A meaty hand gripped my arm and I looked up at him.
"It will take more than three assassins to prevent such devastation… Little Warrior," Thor rumbled lowly, unnervingly serious as his eyes bored into mine.