↳ CHAPTER FOUR:

PARTY POOPER ↵

"No!" I pouted, crossing my arms across my chest stubbornly. "I'm not leaving now."

It was halfway through the party while I was socialising when Steve and Tony cornered me.

"Please, I've never been to something like this before," I lowered my eyes to the floor. I was a god damn spy and even I knew how to turn on the water works in front of others to manipulate them. Tears immediately came up and I pretended to sniffle before looking at the two with a sad face. "I really really want to fit in here, I've never been able to before–"

Tony interrupted me before I could go any further. "Okay kid, you can party." I could almost laugh at the expressions both men held: horror, shock, and panic. They didn't know how to comfort a crying woman.

"Thanks," I used my warm hands to push away tears from my face before I hugged them both. "This really means a lot to me."

"Nice waterworks," Natasha commented and I grinned as I sat down beside her. I watched Tony and Steve bid farewell to guests, I guess the party was coming to an end. "I've never been able to use it with them but just now, made my night."

"Guys never know what to do," I grinned and I leaned back into the couch. "They're so gullible."

"Damn right they are, especially Tony and Steve." Nat laughed with me, it was good to have a friend.

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"But it's a trick." He complained loudly, lying causally against the couch while twirling drumsticks in his hands. Everyone turned to him, a smile in place. Everyone had a few extra drinks and now were feeling a slight buzz.

"No, no, it's much more than that." Thor commented with a sly grin, as if he knew the secrets to the world.

"Whosoever be he worthy shall haveth the power. Whatever, man! It's a trick." Clint scoffed at the phrase.

"Please, be my guest. Come on," Thor coaxed Clint, ready for a show. I knew that he took a great pleasure from seeing this happen. But really, was he the only one who can lift the hammer?

"Really?" Clint asked in disbelief. Thor wouldn't punch you for touching his stuff? He did tend to be quite territorial.

"Yeah." Thor motioned him toward the hammer, inviting him. 

"This is gonna be beautiful." Rhodey commented and I grinned, raising my beer in agreement. 

"Clint, you've had a tough week. We won't hold it against you if you can't get it up." Tony told Clint, and I rolled my eyes at his sarcastic comment.

"You know I've seen this before, right?" Clint asked Thor, grasping the hammer before pulling. He grunted, yanking hard on the hammer. I stared in disbelief, what. "I still don't know how you do it!" Clint laughed in amazement, and I turned at the sound of Tony.

"Smell the silent judgment?" Tony believed in science, not myths and I knew that he was going to try his hardest to pick up the hammer.

"Please, Stark, by all means."

"Okay. Never one to shrink from an honest challenge." Tony hopped up, wiping away invisible crumbs from his suit.

"Get after it." I called out with a smirk, "this is gonna be good."

"It's physics." Tony told the group, as if we were all kids in a science class.

"Physics." Rhodey repeated as we all watched Tony prepare himself by putting the strap around his wrists.  "Right, so, if I lift it, I then rule Asgard?"

"Yes, of course." Thor told him with a grin. 

"I will be reinstituting prima nocta." I held my breath at the comment before frowning, I didn't get it. Was that a joke in America? Because if it was, it wasn't that funny. 

Tony pulled and pulled before clearing his throat. "I'll be right back." 

Not much later, Tony came back with part of his suit. Nothing happened. I laughed loudly as Rhodey joined him with a part of his own suit, helping Tony try to lift the hammer.

"Are you even pulling?" Asked Rhodey, as if Tony wasn't putting in any effort.

"Are you on my team?" Tony asked Rhodey, wounded that Rhodey didn't believe he was trying.

"Just represent. Pull," Rhodey muttered. 

"All right, let's go."

I just laughed in amusement, happy to see these losers trying so hard for a damn hammer.

Next was Bruce who pulled with all of his might, his face a dark red from the exertion he was putting into lifting the hammer. His grunts turned into a yell, raising his fists in the air.  The room was silent besides my loud snort at Bruce's attempt to turn into the Hulk. 

"No?"  Natasha shook her head at Bruce, who turned to see me laughing my ass off. 

"Go ahead, Steve. No pressure." Steve stepped up, rolling up his nice shirt's sleeves. H

"Come on, Cap."

Yet again, nothing. 

"Nothing," Thor called out with a laugh, lifting his beer to his mouth. I grinned, he must be having a blast.

"And, Widow?"

"No, no. That's not a question I need answered." Nat told the group, raising her beer to her lips. 

"All deference to the Man who wouldn't want to be king, but it's rigged." Tony told the group. I knew that Tony felt betrayed by the world– where did science go wrong? 

"You bet your ass." Clint patted Tony on the back. 

"Steve, he said a bad language word." Maria pointed out, smiling at Steve. I giggled into my beer, this night was great.

Steve sighed, turning to Tony a glare set in place. "Did you tell everyone about that?"

"The handle's imprinted, right? Like a security code." Tony put out his theory, knowing something had to be scientific. "Whosoever is carrying Thor's fingerprints" is, I think, the literal translation."

I cleared my throat, standing up. I stared pointedly at Tony, waiting for him to catch on.  My hands rested on my hips as I stood above the hammer, watching as Tony looked towards me, his eyes widening.

"Oh shit," Tony whispered excitedly before stumbling closer. "Valentina, coming to our rescue."

I ignored the use of my full name, why can't anyone use my nickname anymore?

Everyone gasped at my sudden change in appearance as I felt myself grow taller. I grinned before rolling my shoulders back, noticing the strength I felt already from this body. I grasped onto the handle of the hammer and closed my eyes in concentration before yanking hard. 

Everyone gasped again as they saw the slight jilt in the hammer before it stilled. Yelling and hollering began and I grinned as I turned back to Thor whose face had paled. I let myself change back into my original form, shrinking in front of Thor who sat on the couch in disbelief. 

"Aw," I bent down to reach his level. I grasped his cheeks in my hands and pressed his face together. "Were you scared that little ol' me might be able to take your hammer away?"

"Yes. It's a very, very interesting theory. I have a simpler one." Thor cleared his throat as he shoved me lightly into the couch, he definitely didn't like me squishing his face together. The hammer easily lifted from the table as Thor spun it in the air. "You're all not worthy."

"Come on!" Everyone started yelling complaints to him. 

Suddenly, a loud noise filled the room and I covered my ears quickly at the sounds.

"Worthy. No. How could you be worthy? You're all killers."

The whole room felt colder as everyone turned to see an intruder. Carefully, everyone stood up carefully and armed themselves. I found a gun pressed into my hands by Natasha. 

I gulped, I didn't know what to do. I haven't even trained properly to use my powers. I stood strong though beside Natasha, I knew how to be a killer. 

And even though I wished I could forget that, I had to right now be one for now. 

"Stark," Steve asked lowly not taking his eyes off of the broken machine in front of us. Wasn't this what Stark wore? Or wasn't it like his little drones? 

What the hell was happening?!

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