CHAPTER TWO

House Party

- - - - -

Jarvis flew the quinjet back to the Avengers Headquarters. Clint was quickly rushed off the ramp and Natasha walked with him, as Ana helped carry the equipment off the quinjet.

Maria walked onto the ramp to join Tony and Steve, still inside the quinjet, and passed Ana and Thor who carried Loki's sceptre underneath his arms. Ana dragged the large and heavy crate of equipment off the aircraft and saluted Maria, before placing the crate in it place near the lab.

She then sat down on a chair in the lab with a sigh. She took off her bloody gloves and placed them on the table next to her. She removed all the layers of her suit that Tony had designed for her, so she only had on her under shirt.

"Ana, Clint wants you!" Natasha called.

Ana stomped off the chair and made her way to where Helen worked on Clint, placing tissue on his wound and healing him. She flicked his head when he started to close his eyes.

"Don't go to sleep. You sleep, you die." She said, grinning with Natasha.

Clint rolled his now open eyes and Helen chuckled at them, "Mr. Barton won't die." She said.

"You sure he's going to be okay? Pretending to need this guy really brings the team together." Natasha smirked.

"There's no possibility of deterioration. The nano-molecular functionality is instantaneous. His cells don't know they're bonding with simulacrum." Helen explained. Ana scrunched her nose up, not understanding anything but 'cells don't know they're bonding' part.

Bruce walked in with his lab coat and nodded at the machine that worked on Clint, "She's creating tissue." He said. Ana pointed at him with a nod.

"If you brought him to my lab, the regeneration cradle could do this in twenty minutes." Helen said, giving Bruce a look as she typed on her tablet. Tony came in, carrying a tray full of drinks.

"Oh, he's flatlining. Call it." Tony said, "Time?" Tony asked, checking his watch. Ana laughed as he handed her a drink.

Clint chuckled, "No, no, no. I'm going to live forever. I'm gonna be made of plastic." He said.

Clint grabbed the beverage from Tony's hand. "Here's your beverage." Tony said.

"You'll be made of you, Mr. Barton." Helen said with a smile, "Your own girlfriend won't be able to tell the difference."

"Well, I don't have a girlfriend." Clint mumbled in his drink. Ana and Natasha caught his gaze and they all had the same look in their eyes. Girlfriend, no. Wife, yes.

"That I can't fix." Helen said, walking over to her desk, "This is the next thing, Tony. Your clunky metal suits are going to be left in the dust." She sassed making Ana laugh a little.

"Well, that is exactly the plan. And Helen, I expect to see you at the party on Saturday." Tony said.

Helen thought about it for a brief moment, "Unlike you, I don't have a lot of time for parties."

Ana smirked to herself as she noticed her hesitate. "Will Thor be there?" Helen asked casually and looked down at her tablet.

They all nodded simultaneously and Clint gave a grunt for his answer. Tony and Bruce decided to work on the sceptre as Natasha and Ana stayed back with Clint. As she watched the machine work on Clint, Ana placed her hand under her chin as she was thinking.

She looked up at Helen, "If I chop off my arm, will this give it back?" She asked.

"Uh, let's not try it."

- - -

The party was in full swing. Guests had arrived, waiters were serving drinks and the Avengers enjoyed the time off. Ana let Natasha doll her up and they both entered the upper level of the tower. Natasha went to mingle with a few people as Ana wandered aimlessly around the room.

She was on her way to the bar for a drink when Tony pulled at her hand. She looked at him with a smile, "Hey, Stark." She greeted.

Tony grinned at her, looking at her outfit. "You know, I think this is the first time I've seen you without your super suit. You look great." He said.

Ana smoothed her dress, blushing slightly at the compliment. "Thanks, you look like you always do." She smirked.

Tony smirked, "Thank you, my little lady." He said and Ana laughed at the nickname.

"Come on, I want you to meet a old pal of mine." He dragged her along to the bar.

"Rhodey, this is Ana." Tony said, gesturing to her as they stopped in front of Maria and Rhodey. Tony smiled at Ana, "Ana, this is Rhodey."

Ana smiled at Rhodey, "Nice to meet you." She said with a nod of her head.

Rhodey grinned at her, "You too. I've seen you fight, and I gotta say I was impressed." He said.

"I have excellent teachers." Ana laughed, "And your Iron Patriot suit is cool but..." She trailed off, not wanting to hurt his feelings.

Tony jumped in, "War Machine is a lot cooler!"

Ana nodded at him and they shared a high-five. The four of them laughed and Maria handed Ana a drink to which she thanked her. Ana heard a familiar laugh and turned her head to where she saw Sam and Steve at the pool table. She excused herself from her current company and joined the men.

"Hey, Steve, Sam." Sam looked up when she joined them had grinned at her, "Little Ana!"

Ana frowned at the name and hugged him, "I'm not that little." She mumbled. Steve smiled at her as Sam pulled back and gave her a look, "Can you see what I'm doing? I'm looking down at you. I look down at little people." He explained.

Ana narrowed her eyes at him and sized him up, "Wanna say that again Wilson?" She asked with a smirk. Sam shook his head, "No, no, you're good." He said.

Steve laughed at them, knowing Sam wouldn't want to be in a fight with Ana knowing she'll win. He smiled at her, "You look beautiful, Ana." He said.

Ana smiled at Steve, "Thank you, Cap. You look great. Have you told Sam about Sokovia?" She asked.

They went for a walk and Sam nodded at her, "Yeah, it sounded like a hell of a fight, sorry I missed it." He said as they walked up the staircase that led them to the second level.

"If I had known it was going to be a firefight I absolutely would have called you." Steve said.

"No, I'm not actually sorry. I'm just trying to sound tough." Sam explained to him. Ana chuckled at him.

"I'm very happy chasing cold leads on our missing persons case." Sam said giving each of them a look. Ana gave him a small nod, Bucky was still on the run and whenever they had a lead, it would turn out to be nothing but a sham. Sam took a sip of his drink and they stood behind a glass wall that overlooked the entire lounge area.

"Avenging is your world. Your world is crazy."

"Be it ever so humble." Steve added.

"You find a place in Brooklyn yet?" Ana asked Steve.

"I don't think I can afford a place in Brooklyn." Steve said.

Ana waved her hand, "I'm sure Tony wouldn't mind helping you out."

Sam tilted his head, "Well, home is home, you know?" Steve looked at Sam and Ana, listening to them, as the music played in the background.

- - -

"See this, this was aged for a thousand years, in the barrels built from the wreck of Brunhilde's fleet." Thor explained. He handed a drink to Ana, who looked at it with grin. He then handed one to Steve. "It's not meant for mortal men."

"And women." Ana added.

"Neither was Omaha Beach, blondie. Stop trying to scare us. Come on." The guy with the hat and sunglasses said, waving his hand for a drink.

Thor, Ana and Steve shared a look.

"Alright." Thor said. He handed one to the guy with the hat.

Ana and Steve nodded at each other and they took a careful sip. Ana's metabolism, like Steve's, burns faster than the normal human. So that meant she could probably take some space alcohol.

Steve pulled back with a cough, but he could drink it. Ana wrinkled her nose at the strong scent and gulped hers down. She coughed, laughing as Thor smiled at her impressed. "That's real strong Thor." She mumbled.

"Well done Lady Ana." Thor said with a chuckle, as he drank his like it were water.

The guy with the hat was already falling over and tipsy on his feet as he tried to get up. A couple of his friends helped him home, "Excelsior...." He mumbled as they helped up out.

Ana frowned as she watched him go, he looked somewhat familiar. She then shrugged and nodded at Thor, "Thanks for that, now I know whenever to visit Asgard, not to drink any of your booze." She said. He chuckled and clapped her on the back.

"My friends would love you, my lady!"

- - -

The after party only consisted of the Avengers, so everyone else went home. They sat on the sofas, drinking with each other and laughing. Thor was explaining the oath of his hammer and that only the worthy may wield it. Ana was sitting with Clint as he twirled one of his drumsticks, "But it's a trick!" He said.

"Oh, no. It's much more than that." Thor said with a chuckle.

"Uh, 'Whosoever be he worthy shall haveth the power!'" Clint mocked. Ana laughed beside him, "Not bad Clint." She said and they grinned, looking at Thor.

"Whatever man, it's a trick!"

"Well please, be my guest." Thor said, offering a hand for Clint to try and pick up the hammer that rested on the table.

"Really?" Clint asked.

"Yeah." Thor nodded.

"Oh this is gonna be beautiful." Rhodey commented.

"Clint, you've had a tough week, we won't hold it against you if you can't get it up." Tony said.

A few chuckles went around, and Ana leaned forward to watch. She loved moments like this, where her team turned into a family. She loved her family.

"You know Ana and I have seen this before, right? " Clint said, as he and Ana glanced at Thor who nodded in return.

Clint reached for the handle on Thor's hammer and grunted as he pulled at it. He wheezed out a chuckle and shook his head, "I still don't know how you do it."

The hammer was not lifting up for Clint, which probably meant there was no way a human could lift it. Ana then stood up, hearing Natasha whisper a 'go girl' and Steve chuckle to himself. She went beside Clint and just for laughs, pushed him away playfully with attitude. The team laughed at that and Ana winked at Thor.

"Let me try, I am as strong as you Mighty Thor." She said.

Thor leaned forward and hummed, "Go ahead, my lady."

Ana flexed her fingers before grabbing the hammer. She crouched slightly and pulled with all her will. But nothing happened. Thor laughed at her pout and she flicked the leather strap, "I'm still going to Asgard." She told him.

Thor nodded at her and Tony spoke up, "Smell the silent judgment?" Tony asked.

"Please, Stark, by all means." Clint said, pointing to Tony for him to try next. Ana sat back down with Clint.

"Oh, here we go." Natasha sighed.

"Okay." Maria commented.

"Uh oh." Rhodey said as Tony casually walked over to Thor's hammer.

"Never one to shrink from an honest challenge." Tony said as he passed Clint and Ana. "It's physics."

"Right, so, if I lift it, I...I then rule Asgard?" Tony asked as he grabbed the handle.

"Yes, of course," Thor said. Steve couldn't help but smirk as he watched, grinning behind his fist.

"I will be re-instituting Prima Nocta." Tony said, as he climbed up onto the table to try and lift the hammer. Ana scoffed at his words. But he couldn't pick it up. "I'll be right back." He said, and returned a moment later with his armoured glove. The hammer still didn't budge.

Tony then had Rhodey grab his own glove. Tony and Rhodey tried to pull the hammer up from the table but it still wasn't budging.

"Are you even pulling?" Rhodey asked.

"Are you on my team?" Tony said looking at Rhodey.

"Just represent! Pull!" Rhodey said, pulling with all his might.

"Alright, let's go!" But Tony and Rhodey were not worthy to lift Thor's hammer. Bruce, Steve, and Natasha were left.

"Bruce?" Ana turned to the Hulk and grinned at him, nodding her head to the hammer.

"Banner, help us out!" Tony said.

"Alright, alright." Bruce said as everyone cheered him on to try to pick up the hammer.

Bruce hopped up next to the table, and tried to pull the hammer. When the hammer didn't lift he started to roar in a feigned angry manner. He raised his arms like a monster, leaping away from the table as if he was going to Hulk out.

Ana's face fell, along with everyone else's who weren't amused.

"Huh?" Bruce asked.

"Let's go, Steve, no pressure." Ana encouraged. Steve grinned at her, and walked over to the hammer and wrapped his hands around the handle.

"Come on, Cap!" Tony said.

Steve started to lift the hammer, and everyone heard the slight creak as if the hammer almost lifted, and Thor's face paled. Steve tried again, but nothing happened. Steve lifted his hands in defence.

"Nothing." Thor chuckled, and took a sip of his drink as Steve went back to his seat.

"And?" Tony said, glancing around the room to see who was next. All eyes landed on Natasha.

"Widow?" Bruce offered.

"Oh, no no. That's not a question I need answered." Natasha said, taking a sip of her drink, and leaning back casually in her lounge chair.

"All deference to the man who wouldn't be king, but it's rigged." Tony said.

"You bet your ass." Clint said, as he smacked Tony's shoulder.

"Steve, he said a bad language word." Maria teased, pointing to Clint. Ana smiled at Steve as he looked up at Tony, "Did you tell everyone about that?"

Ana sheepishly lifted her hand, "We both did." She smiled. Steve narrowed his eyes playfully but then they just smiled it off.

"The handle's imprinted, right? Like a security code. 'Whosoever is carrying Thor's fingerprints' is, I think, the literal translation." Tony said.

"Yes, well that's, uh, that's a very, very interesting theory. I have a simpler one." Thor said, picking up his hammer with ease. He flipped it around in his hand. "You're all not worthy."

Ana, Rhodey and Maria all just booed. Thor chuckled and took a sip of his beer, Rhodey was about to take a sip of his drink until all of a sudden a very loud and screeching noise sounded.

Ana grabbed her head, wincing at the sharp sound. Everyone cringed, lowering their heads at the noise. The team stood up when they heard a scraping metal noise come from the lab. A battered robot, torn up and broken approached the lounge.

"Worthy? No... How could you be worthy? You're all killers." The robot said as he wobbled on his feet and pointed at them accusingly. Ana hadn't seen anything like this before, maybe it was one of Tony's, all haywire.

"Stark." Steve said.

"Jarvis..." Tony said, but nothing was happening.

"I'm sorry, I was asleep. Or...I was dreaming?" The robot said, walking forward. His arms were tangled in strings and wires as he turned.

"What were you dreaming of?" Ana asked.

"Reboot, Legionnaire, we got a buggy suit." Tony said quickly, tapping the device in his hands.

"There was a terrible noise...and I was tangled in... in... strings." The robot replied to Ana, his blue eyes piercing her own.

Clint moved slightly in front of Ana, catching the move. Ana was curious about this robot, how was it thinking on it's own, why wasn't it controlled by Jarvis?

"I had to kill the other guy," The robot said. "He was a good guy."

"You killed someone?" Steve asked.

"Wouldn't have been my first call. But, down in the real world we're faced with ugly choices."

"Who sent you?" Thor asked.

The robot replayed something in the back of his mechanical head. "I see a suit of armour around the world." It sounded like Tony. The group all looked at the Iron Man.

"Ultron." Bruce spoke up.

"In the flesh. Or, no, not yet. Not this...chrysalis. But I'm ready." He said as Thor tightened his grip on the hammer. Maria was already getting her gun out and Ana pulled out her dagger from her purse.

"I'm on a mission." Ultron said.

"What mission?" Natasha asked.

"Peace in our time." Ultron replied.

Ana's senses were on fire and she stepped forward. Then suddenly the Iron Maiden Legion crashed through the walls and