Amber- OH. MY. GOSH. I totally forgot about this thing! I'll update a few today to hopefully make up for it (somewhat). OHOHOH, try to guess Astrid's mom! Wewon't tell you, but looking at your ideas is always fun :) Anyways, read, review, and if you like it enough favorite/follow! And curtain.
Natasha groaned and turned around. Five more minutes and then I'll get up, she decided with a moan. After a few moments of peace, her door creaked open and someone walked in.
The someone sat on her bed and whispered, "Mornin' love," Clint.
"Whatcha doin' in my bed, this isn't how to keep up a secret rela-" She yawned. "shionship…"
Clint chuckled and kissed her forehead. "Can't help it 'Tasha, you're too beautiful,"
"Shut it," Natasha mumbled, but was moved ever so slightly by the compliment. She should be more if he didn't tell her every day. Clint chuckled.
"You know you like it whenever I say that!"
"That's cause it's true," Natasha mumbled. All of a sudden there was a loud scream.
"MY FOOD!" Tony yelled at the top of his lungs. Clint and Natasha instantly jumped up and ran outside to see Tony staring at his refrigerator which was wide open. At first, there seemed to be nothing peculiar until they actually walked next to him. Glass was everywhere and condiments had splashed in every square inch imaginable.
"What the heck happened?" Clint exclaimed, not quite using the word 'heck'.
"I have no idea," Natasha mumbled. That was about the time Pepper walked in, already in her business clothes.
"Tony, I heard you yell something, did the a- what happened?!" Pepper exclaimed. "Tony, did you drink too much last night?"
Tony looked at her, shocked. "You seriously doubt my ability to hold my liquor? I wouldn't do that after you fell asleep halfway through lecture, anyways. "
"Really?" She mumbled, searching for a mop.
"Really!" He confirmed, then something in his mind clicked. "JARVIS!"
-Sir, you don't have to scream, I am always here.-
"Yeahyeahyeah, but did anyone come into the kitchen last night?"
-Yes, the guest, Miss Astrid. She asked for my assistance in finding the refrigerator and pronounced it rather crudely.- JARVIS would have sounded critical if robots could.
"That bi-" Pepper gave him a hard glare. "Biscuit, I meant biscuit!"
"I think I should talk with her," Pepper said, tossing Tony the mop. "Clean it up, will you?" Before he could protest, she had walked out of the room and hopped into the elevator. Tony sighed and started to swish the mop across the field of broken glass and mixed condiments. After a few sweeps, he quickly handed it to Natasha and ran off.
"Tony-!" Clint had run out with him before she could pass it on.
Astrid had been sleeping when Pepper walked in, and the mess on the bed was a sight for sore eyes. She hadn't really taken any time to notice how dirty the Asgardian's clothes were before, but now took a good look. Her hair was tangled in a monstrosity of a bedhead and mustard, ketchup, and a few other substances Pepper would rather not identify had splashed all over her legs along with the dirt previously applied from falling out of the sky. With a cringe, she noticed how much had gotten on the sheets.
Pepper gently shook her. Astrid shook her off and turned over so her back was facing Pepper.
"Astrid hon? Get up please,"
"Go away… I dun'wanna see the men… leave me alone…" Astrid mumbled.
"You don't have to if you wake up, you just have to get fixed up," Pepper replied gently.
"I dun'care if you wanna have sechhh…" She mumbled, rolling over onto her bed and swatting aimlessly. She cracked open her eyes, and sat up in a flash.
"What are YOU doing in here?!" She exclaimed, scrambling to stand.
"Astrid hon, I just wanted to fix you up real quick, and you left a big mess yesterday. We took care of it, but can you please not do that again?"
"What, the Re-Bridge of Ator? The substances were horrible, I disposed of them for you."
"Oh Astrid, they are condiments. You put them on the other food! Come on, get up, I'll get you fixed up and then I'll make you some food."
"Uh," Astrid thought for a little. "Fine," she said sighing. Getting up, she groggily followed Pepper to the connected guest bathroom.
"You… you won't… go at me, will you?" She asked, voice wavering.
"What do you mean go at me, Astrid?"
"Uhm, like, uhm," She shuffled her feet. "Like the people my mom, uh, takes home."
Pepper suddenly understood what she meant and stood looking at her shocked. "No no NO!" She said quickly. "Of course I wouldn't! I'm with Tony and I- I would never ever do that!"
"Oh, I was just assuming, I mean, eh," Astrid said, her mumbles blended slightly. "It's just, that's kind of expected, and, uhm, well… you are holding me captive, so…"
"NO, no, you're fine, now go take a bath, I'll leave your room to go get you some clothes." Astrid nodded slowly and quickly walked into the bathroom, shutting the doors behind her.
~0.0~
"She thought you'd what?!" Steve exclaimed. Clint looked like he seriously wanted to pull a virgin joke, but held back.
"Yes, I was horrified. I better get these clothes and get them to her. I'll be back," Pepper said and rushed to Astrid's bedroom. Steve was still standing, dumbfounded.
"That's a bad mom," Tony concluded, and went to pour a shot.
~0.0~
Pepper gently knocked on Astrid's door. "Astrid honey, can I come in?"
"Who wishes- oh, I'm not decent yet, but I don't have any clothes. I could use my old ones but anything-"
"Hon, I've brought you some clothes. Do you want me to just stick them through the door? I won't look, I promise."
"Uhm…" There was a pause. "Okay." Astrid opened the door slightly and Pepper stuck the the clothes through. A soft hand took them from her and then the door was closed. Pepper waited patiently until she heard a muffled 'OW!'
"Astrid? Are you okay?"
Silence. "My hair is all tangled. It just won't-" The was a sound of her trying to furiously brush it.
"Can I come inside?"
"I permit," The door opened and Astrid stood in front of it, furiously trying to brush her hair.
"Allow me," Pepper said gently and sat down on the bed, motioning for Astrid to sit in front of her. Astrid hesitated, but after remembering what Pepper had said previously, she gingerly sat down in front of her. Pepper, who had come prepared with a million hair accessories and some hair brushes sat down and started combing Astrid's still damp hair. She fidgeted a few times, but otherwise gave a great display of trust toward Pepper. Perhaps it was the way she spoke, or the natural calm she possessed, but Astrid decided if anyone should be her ally, it was Pepper. Only problem, she might get too involved when the dirty work- Astrid shoved the thought away and tried to enjoy the moment at least a bit.
"How do you want me to do the braid hun?" Pepper asked after some time of comfortable silence.
Astrid thought for a little and not knowing the common terms for the types of ways mortal did their hair, she hesitantly replied, "I do not suspect you would know any of the ways Asgardians style hair. Do whatever may be familiar." Pepper silently nodded and set to work.
Pepper's thin fingers parted Astrid's hair in a neat line and started weaving the hair in and out.
"What do you think of Stark towers, Astrid?"
"It is rather different than what I'm used to, I suppose. The contraptions are rather unusual and oddly named."
Pepper lightly laughed. "I think if was in Asgard, I would think the same thing, so don't worry, I fear it is quite natural."
"You wouldn't just feel this way, it'd be nearly impossible to stand. The gravity is much too strong for normal mortals. You'd become rather acquainted with our cobblestone," Astrid stated matter-of-factly.
Pepper paused her braiding and looked at Astrid quizzically. "Really?"
"Yes. And that would be if the exposure to our sun's rays hadn't already burned you to ash. Or possibly the wind carrying you into the mountains. So many options." Pepper resumed her braiding. They were silent until Pepper slipped on a hair-tie and got up.
"Have you finished the braid yet?" Astrid asked.
"Yes," Pepper replied.
~0.0~
Odin burst back into the hall just before sunset.
"There has been an alteration if what is to be. One of our own has fallen to Midgard. Thor, I need you to retrieve her, and Loki as well."
"Father, how could that be beneficial? Midgardians would like nothing more than to rip Loki to bits!" Thor boomed.
"Yes, I find the ending of his statement quite alarming," Loki agreed. Frigga's eyes widened. Sharing an opinion with Thor was definitely a first.
"I will not explain my motives to you. Loki, Thor, I order you to Midgard. This person is much too large a threat to keep unleashed amongst mortals."
~0.0~
Astrid stared at Pepper as she stroked the small brush against her nails.
"What is this practice called again?"
"Painting nails," Pepper replied, blowing in her right hand. Astrid resisted from making a comment on mortals and their odd practices, and substituted with an investigation of sorts.
"Why are we doing this to my nails?"
"To make them pretty."
"How does painting them green make them pretty?"
"Stay still, I nearly missed." Astrid stilled obediently, looking at her hands. The green did look rather nice, actually. Odd and extremely Midgardian, but nice.
A loud sucking noise erupted outside, and Pepper jumped. A small drop of polish landed on Astrid's finger.
"What was that?"
"The Bifrost," Astrid replied with a small smile. So Mother was going to help, after all? This was a nice change in plans. Her smile dimmed when she remembered what she was here to do. Having Mother here would just make it all the more a sour dealing. The look in her eyes, while Astrid would watch. The pain was always fresh when it happened, no matter how many times it did.
"FRIEND STARK!" A voice boomed, making it all the way to their floor. Astrid cringed; that was most definitely not her mother.
By the time Astrid and Pepper had emerged in the room, Thor had already finished his eardrum murders. Astrid looked at him cautiously but Pepper went straight up to him and gave a him warm hug. Thor squeezed Pepper tight.
"Careful, he might squash you," A snarky voice said, coming from behind Thor. Astrid silently gasped. Loki. She shook his other name to the back of her head.
"Do not fear, brother! I have lately gained control of myself," Thor explained in his thundering voice as he crushed Pepper.
"I'm not your brother," Loki hissed, "and you are simply suffocating the mortal." Thor released Pepper and patted her head.
On the other end of the couch, no one seemed to notice Natasha having to hold Clint by securing him in multiple places with her arms and legs. Right when it seemed he'd stop going, Loki walked over.
"He does only have the slightest bit of control, wouldn't you agree?" He commented, looking at Clint up and down. "Good thing his girlfriend has a brain."
"And good thing you're under Thor's control, or else I would hurt you right where it counts," Natasha spat.
"He doesn't control me," Loki said, keeping his back straight.
"Tell that to the handcuffs," Clint countered gruffly. Loki made an effort not to rattle the chains as he stared back with enough venom to push a bilgesnipe right off of its hunky legs.
"I know you still have the nightmares," Loki said so softly Clint barely was able to register that he spoke.
"You son of a-" Clint started.
"Mother? That's quite the fact." They would have continued their verbal catfight if Thor wasn't so loud.
"IS THIS THE ASGARDIAN OF WHICH FATHER SPOKE?" His voice rattled Loki's chains. He casually turned to see Thor marching over to the teenager, who took a step back.
"You wouldn't dare touch me," She hissed, eyeing his baseball-mitt hands.
"What could be so wrong? I am your prince!"
"That doesn't mean people like you," Loki pointed out.
"Why do you resist my touch?" Thor repeated.
"I do what I want!" She spat, taking another step back. "And I do not want you touching me."
Thor looked at her quizzically and then sighed. "Fine, little lady, but may you be kind enough to tell me your name?"
Toy spoke up, "It's Cloudy!" Pepper looked at him with clear annoyance. He pouted and then added, "Her real name is Astrid, though."
Curse that mortal! Why must he give Thor my name? Astrid thought angrily.
"You are in no position to tell him what I do not wish to!" She growled at Tony, who gave her a look.
"So you want to be called Cloudy?" He brightened. "Great!"
"I do not want to be called by that crude nickname," She said, "but I would have kept my actual name a secret. Are all mortals as stupid as you?" Pepper turned her gaze on Astrid.
"Apologize!" She gasped.
"That isn't in my character."
"I like this Cloudy," Loki muttered, using Astrid's nickname in an attempt to get under her skin. Instead of a glare, he received a horrified look and then chuckling from Tony.
"I think I'm influencing Loki!" He exclaimed proudly.
"You do not have any part in what I dec-" Loki started.
"Oh both you stop acting like little children!" Pepper exclaimed straightening her business suit.
"Well, I'm off to work now. Good to see you Thor, and Avengers," She thought for a moment. "I'm going to say this as nicely as possible. Behave. Steve, I trust you can keep everyone in check."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good." And with that, she reboarded the elevator. Steve turned to the group in front of him. Bruce was right. They really were an atomic bomb, ready to explode.
~0.0~
Most days she wasn't into the spying business, but she had to keep her eye on the prize. And oh, what a wonderful gift that'd be. She had laid down on her bed and cast a spell. She was observing the rag-tag group, Thor, his "brother", and her own. Fluttering her spirit down, she got a good look, then started the spell. Focusing on Astrid's heart, she coiled her magic around, then bound it to the center of the tower. After checking to make sure there were no loopholes, she hastily made her exit. Too long and the sorcerer would feel her aura. Later, she promised herself. Just give Astrid some time, it will all come around. Sucking her spirit back into her body, she was met by the eyes of her victims who circled her bed, clearly under a spell's influence. Oh, waiting would be fun.
hihiitsbooksandstuff- HI! Soooooo, what'd you think? DId you like it? Did you? PLEASE REVIEW and tell tell us what you think, it would make both of our days!
Amber- Like she said, please review, favorite, follow, whatever is convenient! Good day, mates!