ALINA
Sipping my drink by the bar, I watched as the couples danced together. Roara was with Loki, her arms delicately placed around his neck, her head on his chest, eyes practically closed. Her bright colours on her arm looking particularly vibrant next to the muted colours of his navy Asgardian jacket and black shirt.
"Bucky." I heard Steve mutter from along the bar. "You're staring." I looked in their direction. He definitely was staring.
"Am I?" Bucky downed his drink and put his empty glass on the counter, gesturing for another.
"Yes." I hissed to him.
He looked me up and down and said nothing.
"Sorry about him." Steve whispered. "He's being very negative at the moment."
"I can see that."
"You'll have to excuse him. He's had a very hard-"
"Life?" I guessed. "My parents both died before I was 18. We've all dealt with shit."
"Well I guess that's fair enough." I looked over his shoulder to see Maria standing by the bar, looking absolutely incredible in her pant-suit.
"If you could excuse me." I said to Steve before walking around him to go and stand by Maria.
I called over to the bar-tender. "Excuse me! Could we have two champagnes please?" He nodded and pulled the glasses from the shelf.
"Thanks." She smiled. "I didn't want to bother him, my drink isn't that important."
"I think your drink is very important." I nodded a thank you as he placed our drinks next to us. I picked up her glass and handed it to her. "To drinks being important." I smiled.
"To drinks." She replied and took a sip.
"So, have you see Roara and Loki tonight?" I asked, leaning on the bar.
She chuckled. "Yeah, the boys were having bets as to how long it'd be before he started salivating. We saw the dress designs early." She shrugged.
"Who's winning?"
"Well I lost, because I said minus five seconds." She smiled. "But Thor seems to be winning the lucky bastard."
"How much is the grand prize?"
"Tony put in a thousand because he was certain it'd be in the first five minutes."
I snorted, nearly choking on my champagne. Maria laughed and slapped me on the back.
"Yeah." I coughed. "Sounds like my uncle."
"Well I said after an hour and a half he wouldn't be able to hold it in any longer."
I giggled, and as I turned to check on Roara, I saw her lock eyes with me. I gave her a wink before turning back to Maria.
"Oh your hair, it's," I tucked the piece of hair that had come loose behind her ear, "that's better."
"Thank you. I really should be going though, my boyfriend will be waiting." She smiled at me and I tried not to let my face fall.
"Alright there Stark?" Sam leaned up against the bar beside me.
"Why did nobody tell me Maria has a boyfriend?" I groaned with embarrassment.
Sam looked at Maria and then back to me, "Wait she has a boyfriend?"
"Yep." I took a long drink of my champagne.
"Damn. So you chatting up didn't steal her away?" He glanced at me.
I rubbed my forehead with my fingertips. "Really I was only warming up. Not sure my uncle would like it if I actually dated her."
"Well," Sam shrugged, "you could do worse." He nodded to Roara, who was being spun around by Loki on the dance floor.
"What, like an Asgardian prince?" I raised an eyebrow.
"No, like a murderer." He shook his head. "She's too good for him."
"Oh please Sam." I giggled. "You're not jealous are you?"
He took one look at my face and burst out laughing. "God no!"
"Okay good, because Bucky was already staring daggers at him." I played with the hem of my dress.
"Hey, I never got you to do a twirl for me. C'mon girl give me a spin."
I grinned and spun in a little circle. Sam clapped. "I like it!" He announcement.
"You do? I thought I was upstaged by the demigod over there."
"Oh no, her dress is nice, but yours is better." He winked and gave me a little side hug. "I think they're coming over." He nodded to where Roara was leading Loki off the dance floor.
"Quit being paranoid, she probably just wants another drink."
"Hey!" Roara said, cheeks pink.
I smiled at her. "How's it going..." I drew out the sentence far too long to be necessary.
"It's going well actually. I still can't dance after 405 years of trying very hard, someone's made that very clear." She gave Loki a hard one over, very different to the love-struck way she'd been looking into his eyes as they danced. This girl really couldn't make up her mind it seemed.
"It's not my fault you were gifted with two left feet." Loki shrugged.
"Hilarious. One long island iced tea please."
"Make that two." I called to the bartender.
Roara twisted her mouth into a half smile. "Are we intending to get drunk tonight?"
"I was hoping so." Sam muttered.
I poked him. "Sam, play nice."
A club tune started up behind us, the thumping beat making the floor feel like it was vibrating. It was about 128 bpm. I had a love hate relationship how my brain analysed everything in a medical sense now. It was like there was a tiny doctor in the back of my head lecturing to me 24/7. God knows how sex would be because how the hell would I be able to stay in the moment when I was thinking about the hormones, hearing the beat of their heart, whether their mouth was dry or not, automatically seeing if their pupils were dilated or not. Roara closed her eyes and rolled her head around her neck.
"This, now I like this." She grinned.
"You can't dance!" Loki protested as she downed her drink and walked back onto the dance floor.
"I can't do classy dances!" She shouted. "But I sure as hell can make men blush!"
"I think this is my queue!" I shouted, pushing off the bar to follow her and waving a small goodbye to Sam. "See, I too can make men blush!"
"Are you going without me!" Sam caught up to me, as I made my way through the dense crowd of moving bodies. "I too can shake some booty." He dropped low and wiggled. I was very tempted to giggle.
I saw Roara make her way over to Wanda who was using her telekinesis to move shots from the bar over the crowd. Roara moved her hand and one of the shots moved towards her. Wanda raised her shot in a toast as I was able to catch mine in my hands. The four of us clinked glasses and down the burning liquid.
I squeezed my eyes. "What was that?"
"Sambuca!" Sam shouted to me over the music.
I shook my head as Wanda and Roara laughed. "Blagh. I'm so glad they don't ID here."
"So am I. Imagine the awkwardness of having it say 1593."
I had to shout in her ear for her to hear. "They'd be like, 1993, and you'd just have to shrug and agree."
She laughed, "Sure!"
I saw her turn as she danced, her hands lifting her hair up as she swung her hips. She made eye contact with someone across the bar and grinned. I followed her eye-line. Bucky was having another drink. She gestured to him to come and dance and in response she shook his head and pointed to his drink. She threw up her middle fingers and yelled "YOUR LOSS GRANDPA!"
"How come," Nat shouted coming over to us, "you can't get the hang of a slow dance, but you move like Shakira as soon as you get the chance!"
Roara shrugged. "Maybe the hips just don't lie!"
"How the hell do you know who Shakira is, but have no understanding of Instagram!"
"Wanda, there are many things in the 21st century I can't understand, but music is the one thing I've not lost contact with!"
I pulled Nat over, grabbing her hands and making her laugh as I did some stupid dance moves. I felt the butterflies in my stomach decide to wake up. She twisted me around and placed her hands on my hips as we danced.
Meanwhile Roara had decided that she wanted to be in her natural element. On a table.
"COME ON!" She yelled to me and Nat.
"No thanks!" Nat shouted, as she pushed me onto the table. I nearly fell but Roara was able to grab me.
"HEY THOR!" She screamed down. "Wanna come up?"
"Oh no, not for me." He boomed.
"Can I have some of that ale then?" She asked.
"I only just got it back from Loki!" He protested, but gave over the little flask anyway. "Easy!" He warned, as she took a big gulp. She wiped her mouth and gave it back with a wink.
"SAM!" She screamed. "GET YOUR FINE ASS UP HERE, YOU TOO TONY!"
The two men gave each other a look, before clambering up onto the table. I tried not to be embarrassed by Tony's dancing, though he must have learnt a thing or two from his playboy days. He picked me up and spun me around, my feet dangled over the side of the table making me scream.
"PUT ME DOWN TONY!"
"You're no fun, Roara's having the time of her life." But he placed me back on my feet anyway, going back to boogying. Roara was definitely having the time of her life, slut dropping, and even... twerking?! That was my thing! As I began to shake my butt beside her I saw Pepper across the dance floor put her hands over her face and shake her head.
"POTTS!" Tony yelled, "GET UP HERE!"
"Tony Stark you get down off that table before you break something! You too Alina!" Pepper yelled back.
Tony just winked at her and carried on.
As I surveyed the room, I could see Steve laughing his ass off at us all on the table.
"Hey!" I heard a small voice called. I looked down. Peter was in a shirt, top two buttons undone (I was certain he'd come in with a tie though), looking up at us. "Can I come up?"
"SURE SPIDEY!" Roara grabbed both of his arms and hauled his up onto the table. She threw her hands up and rain fell from the ceiling in iridescent droplets. I was ready to cover my face but soon realised that they weren't dropping onto anyone, just around us. When I looked down the floor wasn't even wet.
"That is so cool!" Peter said in awe.
Roara looked up and saw Loki who was nodding in pride at the trick she'd just pulled, but then another look crossed over his face. Jealousy. About three feet away from him Bucky was staring in the same place. I turned to see Roara, on the table, grinding against a man I didn't know. But I did know him. Agent Bridges, from the aircraft. I knew for a fact she hated the guy, but by this point she was probably so drunk she didn't realise it was him.
"Roara." I hissed. "You're going to make Loki's head explode and Bucky's probably going to pull out a machine gun." I checked back at the table. "Steve also looks like he's going to snap someone's neck."
"Oh hush." She replied, pushing Simon away to talk to me. "I don't want a relationship, I want to have fun. Do you know how long I spent being insecure and not having fun? Like..." she counted on her fingers, "over a century! Look at this!" She spread her arms wide, practically glowing.
I shook my head. "If you're sure."
"Of course I'm sure." She giggled before going back to dancing, her tattoo patterns coming up different colours with the pulsing light.
"That," Sam said into my ear, "is one crazy girl."
"Tell me about it." I laughed.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Roara jump off the table into the mass of dancing bodies. I made to go after her but Tony grabbed my arm.
"She's not your responsibility. You've been watching over her all night, let her go."
I sighed, knowing he was right. I just felt as though something was going to go wrong. She had two of the most protective men in the room tracking her every move, and she was giving nothing to either of them apart from an increasing level of jealousy.
"Hey, sorry, can I have some room here?" Peter shouted. We cleared a space on the table as Peter jumped into a backflip. We cheered as he wiped himself down.
I carried on dancing on top of the table for about 15 minutes until I got a little tired of it and decided to get down at the dismay of Tony and Steve. "I'll be back!" I promised.
I made my way to the pool table, which was much quieter, where Clint and Nat were having a 'friendly' competition.
"Hey." I said, wiping my forehead.
"Want a go?" Nat asked.
"Sure, but I've never played." I took the pool cue from her and lined it up to the white ball.
I felt Nat's body come around me, her hand resting over my own. "You've got to hold it like this." She instructed. I could sense her heart, beating at a calm regular rhythm. I knew she couldn't hear mine, but just in case I tried to take a few deep breaths. Nat was this calm, collected, cool woman. The room listened to her because she'd earned their respect, and it was something I admired about her. Going from being an assassin to an avenger must have been no small for thing. Not to mention she was the most attractive woman in the room, and everyone knew it. Or at least, if they had my eyes, they would.
I pulled back and shot, the white ball just missing the striped ball I'd been aiming for.
"Tough luck Stark." Clint shrugged and made a hit with his own cue. "How's your best friend tonight then?"
"Roara's fine."
"He was talking," Nat gave Barton a sharp look, "about Steve."
"Steve's not-"
"Well you guys have been hanging around a lot." Clint cut in.
"How many times do I have to say this! We are friends! We mostly just get up to train together because the rest of you sleep until like 9am."
Nat chuckled a bit. "Yes, but he does have a six pack. Also I wake up at 7. You two just get up freakishly early."
"Sam, and Bucky, and Thor all have six packs. Have you seen Thor? I mean the muscles on that man!"
"I have indeed." Thor said, coming up to us. "But I assure you, they're nothing different to any Asgardian."
I snorted and jabbed him in the ribs. "Sure."
"Alina." Thor leant down to whisper in my ear. "Roara's having a bit... of a moment. I gave her my Asgardian ale to calm her down but-"
"YOU DID WHAT?" I roared. "You idiot Thor! She's already drunk as a fish!"
"Fish don't actually-"
"Shut up Barton!" I flipped him off as I followed Thor to one of the upstairs sections of the open plan, where Roara was sat on a sofa, Thor's flask in her hands. Steve was next to her looking very uncomfortable.
"Want me to take over?" I asked him.
"You're the best. I can't get drunk but I'm sure as hell getting a drink. Want one?"
"Thanks, but I'm alright. Roara might need some water though."
He nodded. "On it."
I sat next to her and put my arm around her shoulders, gently taking the drink off her and passing it back to Thor. Steve had given her a tissue, the sweet guy.
"I just, just..." Roara sobbed, unable to get more words out.
"Hey," I cooed, "don't worry."
"It's Loki!" She burst out before crumpling into a puddle of tears once more.
I raised an eyebrow. "What did he do? Do I need to punch him?"
She shook her head and wiped her eyes. "No, it's just, I don't think he respects boundaries."
I stood up looking for him. "If that little prick touched you-"
She grabbed my hand and pulled me down. "Nothing like that." She assured me. "I just... things have been difficult recently, in my head like, and he doesn't understand when I don't want to talk about things. He started talking about the video, like the video, and now I can't stop thinking about it."
I took the tissue out of her hands and dabbed around her eyes. "Look, he's got a lot to learn about interpersonal relationships and it's not your job to guide him. If he's your friend he has to learn to respect when you're not ready to talk. It's important. He is your friend isn't he?"
She nodded emphatically. "He really is. And I love him to bits. He's one of my best friends. I mean," she took the tissue out of my hands and blew her nose, "he's an ass, a real ass, I mean the ass on that man-"
"I do not want to hear about my brother's ass please." Thor crossed his arms behind me. I'd almost forgotten he was there.
"Sorry Thor." She sniffed. "But he really does have a nice ass."
Thor turned to me, pointing with one hand at Roara. "Can you believe this?"
I shrugged. "Sorry Thor, he does have a nice ass."
"But don't worry, you're pretty too!" Roara insisted.
Thor nodded to himself, murmuring, "I am pretty."
I looked at Roara and she burst out laughing before shouting out, "CAN I GET A HELL YEAH IF YOU THINK THOR'S PRETTY!"
There was a chorus of hell yeah's from the people within hearing range.
"See Thor," I said, "everyone knows you're pretty." I turned back to Roara. "Now you've got that out, are you feeling better?"
She nodded. "Yeah. Can you fix my make up?"
"Sure honey." I smudged her eyeliner and mascara stains. "Now you've got a smokey eye. What do we think Thor?"
He crouched down to look Roara in the eye. "Marvellous." Before kissing her lightly on the forehead and wiping the last of the tears from her cheeks.
She grinned and wrapped her arms around his shoulders to give him a hug. I'd forgotten how Thor was one of her only friends she'd had from centuries ago who hadn't died already, the other being Loki. It was a sobering thought. These two would be comforting each other in centuries, long after I was dead and buried. But it was also a nice one. She wouldn't be alone anymore. They'd always have each other.
"My brother is difficult. Do you want me to talk to him? I can't make any promises he'll listen." Thor advised.
"If you could. I don't know if it's a conversation I want to have with him."
Thor nodded. "I'll speak to him later."
"Water!" Steve announced. "For the lovely ladies."
He handed both Roara and I glass. While Ro was chugging hers I turned to Steve, who'd sat down beside me. "You didn't have to."
"You looked like you could do with hydrating."
I kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you."
He coughed and looked away. "As I said, it was nothing."
Roara spluttered into her drink. Thor patted her on the back. "Sorry," she said, "I'm just allergic to whatever the hell that was."
"It was friendly affection! You just got kissed on the forehead!" I argued. "Your love language is punching people."
She punched Thor. "It sure is. And I've known this guy since like 1612. It's different. Anyway I go for skinny guys, you go for chonkers."
"I didn't even feel that." Thor sighed and shook his head. "I'm going to find Loki." He got up and left.
"He's a good egg." Ro murmured into her water. "You're all good eggs." She leant across me and patted Steve on the head. "Steve's a good egg too. He's just too nice to everyone. Always doing things for other people. The chonky boy."
"I'm right here."
"I know beef cake. Hey, look it's Bucky! Bucky!" She waved him over.
"Shit." I muttered.
"What?" Steve whispered, as Bucky walked over to where we were sitting.
I groaned. "He doesn't like me."
"He doesn't dislike you, he's like that with everyone. You'll get used to it. Honestly I'm surprised he remember Roara, and some of their experiences together. He didn't even remember me." He didn't look envious, just sad.
I put an arm around him and gave him a small squeeze. "More will come back to him, I'm sure of it."
"Hey doll." He sat next to Steve. "Alina." He nodded to me.
Roara turned to me and whispered, probably far louder than she intended, "He called me doll! Loki called me darling earlier! I am on cloud fucking nine."
Steve covered his mouth to suppress a grin.
"Well I'm hoping I'm at least Bucky's favourite Stark." I looked at him. "Right Barnes?"
He stared hard at me and passed Steve one of the two beers he had. "The competition isn't hard." He said finally.
"So I am your favourite Stark?"
"Don't push it." He said before taking a swig of his beer.
"Oh," I leant forward, "I will be." I pulled Steve's drink out of his hand and had some before giving it back.
Roara shook herself out before turning to me. "Could you slap me in the face? I need to sober up, I think I need a difficult word with Loki myself."
"No, I'm not doing that!"
"Steve?" She asked.
He put his hands up in surrender. "It's a no from me."
"I am literally a demigod, it's like trying to punch Thor, I won't even feel it. It literally took a metal crowbar to leave a mark on me."
She raised her eyebrows at Bucky, who stood up gesturing her to come over to him. "You're crazy." He sighed. "But if you're very sure. Metal arm or normal?" He asked.
"While I do would like to see what that metal arm can do, I'm going to have to go with the normal one." She shook her arms out. "Okay. Hit me."
"Only if you're sure."
"Stop being a-" Slam! His hand make contact with her face. She didn't even flinch, but a smile grew over her face. Steve and I looked at each other. Either this girl really didn't feel that or she had balls of steel and a kinky streak to match.
Roara shook her arms out again and wriggled her nose. "Okay, that's better." She announced, walking away.
I let out a low whistle as Bucky sat back down.
"That." Tony said, coming up the stairs, "Was something. Am I right in thinking she actually asked you to do that?"
"She asked Alina and me first." Steve shook his head and took a sip of his beer. "I'm pretty sure she'd have made a massive vine in the floor and done it herself if Bucky hadn't."
"Well." Tony sat down. "She saw Loki heading to the roof, so I suppose if we a big crash from above us, that's what it is."
"Can't wait to sort that out." Steve murmured and passed me his beer.
"Looking forward to it." I took it and grinned before taking a big drink. The party wasn't over yet, and nobody had died or committed arson, so I knew the night was going to be a long one.