.ೃ࿔*:･𝐱𝐢𝐢. when the party's over

𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐎𝐍, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐆𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐁𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐄. Guests filtered out, their laughter and conversations fading into the background until only the Avengers remained.

Ingrid let out a contented sigh as she slipped off her heels and placed them beside her on the couch. The relief was immediate; her feet, sore from hours of standing and mingling, finally found solace.

This, Ingrid realized, was what she had been looking forward to all evening. The earlier party, with its crowds of people and constant noise, had been overwhelming. Here, in the company of her closest friends, she felt a sense of peace. The pressure to maintain small talk and be constantly on her feet had dissipated, leaving behind a warm, comforting silence punctuated by the familiar voices of her teammates.

"But it's a trick!" Clint exclaimed, laughter bubbling up as he gestured animatedly with his free hand towards Mjolnir which sat imposingly on the table. In his other hand, he clutched a beer, the liquid sloshing slightly with his movements.

"Oh, no. It's much more than that," Thor replied, his tone imbued with a mix of pride and challenge.

"Uh, 'Whosoever be he worthy shall haveth the power!' Whatever, man! It's a trick," Clint mimicked Thor's deep voice. His impression drew chuckles from around the room, even as he grinned broadly.

Thor's grin widened, a gleam of anticipation in his eyes. "Well please, be my guest," he said, gesturing grandly to the hammer.

"Come on," Tony scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief.

Clint, however, looked more than ready to accept the challenge. "Really?" he asked, his eyes narrowing with a newfound determination.

"Yeah!" Thor encouraged, leaning forward slightly, his interest piqued.

Clint set the beer bottle on the table with a decisive clink. He rose quickly, the excitement palpable in his every movement. "Oh, this is gonna be beautiful," Rhodey said dryly, as he watched the scene unfold with a mix of amusement and skepticism.

"Clint, you've had a tough week. We won't hold it against you if you can't get it up," Tony joked. The room filled with a chorus of good-natured laughter, the kind that only comes from close friends making fun of each other.

"You know I've seen this before, right?" Clint said, a hint of exasperation in his voice as he prepared himself for the challenge. With a determined expression, he grabbed Mjolnir and tried to lift it. His muscles strained, and his face turned red with effort, but the hammer remained immovable. After several seconds of futile pulling, Clint finally let out a sigh and raised his hands in surrender. "I still don't know how you do it," he admitted, shaking his head as he sat back down.

"Smell the silent judgment?" Tony smirked.

Clint raised an eyebrow. "Please, Stark, by all means," he said, gesturing towards Mjolnir.

Tony stood up quickly. "Oh, here we go," Natasha said, her tone filled with playful skepticism as she shared a knowing smirk and eyeroll with Ingrid.

"Uh-oh," Rhodey groaned.

Tony ignored the various reactions around him. "Never one to shrink from an honest challenge. It's physics," he declared, his voice brimming with confidence.

"Physics!" Bruce laughed, shaking his head in amusement.

Undeterred, Tony approached Mjolnir once more. He grasped the handle firmly, his face set in determination. "Right, so, if I lift it, I... I then rule Asgard?" he asked, casting a sidelong glance at Thor, who watched with an amused expression.

"Yes, of course," Thor said confidently.

Tony smirked, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I will be re-instituting Prima Nocta."

"Gross!" Ingrid exclaimed, setting her glass down with a look of exaggerated disgust. She got up from the couch, shaking her head. "I'll be right back. Good luck with that, though," she added, gesturing to Mjolnir before patting Tony's shoulder with a playful smile.

Ingrid yawned as she made her way to the bathroom, feeling the need for a brief escape from the strong smell of alcohol that permeated the room. Besides, her friends' futile attempts to lift Mjolnir seemed like the perfect opportunity to take a moment for herself.

The cold floor beneath her feet sent a shiver up her spine as she entered the bathroom. She squinted against the sudden brightness, resisting the urge to rub her eyes. She remembered the heaps of mascara and eyeliner that would be ruined with one careless swipe.

Ingrid looked into the mirror, her reflection showing the toll of the evening's festivities. She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to tame the frizz that had begun to creep in. With a gentle touch, she traced the outlines of her lips, fixing any smudged red lipstick.

She took a few deep breaths, savoring the relatively fresh air in the bathroom. Ingrid knew that she would soon have to return to the lively chaos of the living room, where laughter and the scent of alcohol awaited her.

With one last glance in the mirror, she straightened her posture and prepared herself to rejoin her friends. The laughter and camaraderie were calling her back, and despite the brief respite, she wouldn't trade these moments for anything. Stepping out of the bathroom, she took a deep breath and headed back.

As Ingrid entered the room, her eyes followed the line of sight of her friends to a figure that immediately sent a shiver down her spine—a robot. The machine was slumped to the side, its metal frame disheveled and wires hanging loosely from its limbs. Dark oil dripped steadily onto the floor, creating a small puddle that reflected the dim lighting. Ingrid's heart seemed to stop; a cold chill ran through her veins. She wanted to run, to get as far away as possible, but she found herself frozen in place, her feet glued to the floor.

Bruce, who had been examining the robot with a furrowed brow, seemed to notice Ingrid's wide eyes and pale face. The look on his face was one of urgency and alarm, a silent warning that sent a jolt through her. He glanced at her, his expression making it clear that she needed to get away. Despite the overwhelming fear gripping her, Ingrid found herself walking slowly towards her father, her steps heavy and deliberate. She reached out and clutched his arm tightly.

"Who invited this guy?" Ingrid's voice was shaky, her words barely louder than a whisper. Bruce didn’t take his eyes off the robot, his gaze intense and focused as he gently but firmly pushed Ingrid behind him.

"There was a terrible noise... and I was tangled in... in... strings. I had to kill the other guy. He was a good guy," the robot said, its raspy voice sending chills down Ingrid's spine. She felt her fear intensify as the robot spoke, the eerie dissonance in its voice making the situation even more unsettling.

"You killed someone?" Steve asked, his eyes narrowing with suspicion and concern.

"Wouldn't have been my first call. But, down in the real world, we're faced with ugly choices," the robot replied, its tone almost philosophical, yet detached.

"Who sent you?" Thor demanded.

"'I see a suit of armor around the world,'" the robot played a recording of Tony's voice, causing everyone's eyes to shift toward Tony, who looked taken aback.

"Ultron!" Bruce was the one who finally spoke up, his voice laced with disbelief and recognition.

"In the flesh," the robot, now identified as Ultron, waved his eerie metal arm around his body. "Or, no, not yet. Not this... chrysalis. But I'm ready. I'm on a mission."

"What mission?" Natasha asked, her voice steady but her eyes sharp. Ingrid noticed Thor gripping Mjolnir tightly, and Maria Hill subtly reaching for her gun. Feeling the tension rise, Ingrid slowly created a small flame in her hand, ready to attack if necessary.

"Peace in our time," Ultron answered, his voice eerily calm and resolute.

Ingrid's senses were on fire, her adrenaline pumping as she prepared for the worst. Then, suddenly, the Iron Legion bots crashed through the walls, flying into the lounge and opening fire. The chaos erupted instantaneously.

Steve kicked the table into the air, creating a makeshift shield that bought everyone precious seconds to take cover. The room exploded into action as the Avengers scrambled to respond to the sudden attack.

Ingrid looked around, panic rising when she didn't see her dad nor Natasha. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to focus. The flame in her hands had subdued, but she quickly reignited it, channeling her fear into action. She launched the fireball at a nearby robot, watching with satisfaction as it fell to the floor, its circuits fried.

The room around her was a scene of utter destruction. Everything was shattered, broken shards of glass covering the floor like a sea of sharp, glittering ice. The elegant lounge had been transformed into a battlefield, smoke and sparks filling the air. It was like something out of her worst nightmares.

"Ingrid!" Natasha yelled, her voice cutting through the chaos. Ingrid couldn’t see where Natasha was, but the urgency in her tone made Ingrid's heart race even faster. Just as she looked up, she saw a robot descending rapidly towards her.

Instinctively, Ingrid fell to her knees, summoning a shield of fire above her head. The intense heat radiated from the flames, forming a protective barrier. She heard the robot’s parts sizzling and the whirring of its systems trying to combat the unexpected attack.

After a few tense moments, the noise ceased. Ingrid, still trembling, let the fire shield dissipate. She remained frozen, kneeling on the broken shards of glass scattered across the floor, her arms protectively covering her head.

A sudden pull on her arm made Ingrid yelp, her eyes snapping open in panic. But instead of another enemy, she found herself being dragged to safety. The next thing she knew, she was crouched behind the bar, sitting next to Bruce and Natasha.

"Are you okay?" Bruce asked, his voice filled with concern.

"Did they hurt you?" Natasha added, her eyes scanning Ingrid for any signs of injury.

Ingrid looked between the two adults, her face a mixture of shock and confusion. She shrugged, feeling a bit dazed. "Yeah, I just..." She trailed off as she glanced down at her knees. Her sheer black tights were ripped, and blood dripped from small open wounds, the glass shards having done their damage.

"You'll be okay. Don't worry. We'll fix that in no time," Bruce reassured her, his voice calm and steady. He planted a gentle kiss on her forehead, a gesture that made Ingrid feel a little more grounded amidst the chaos.

Once she was sure Ingrid was okay, Natasha rose to her feet, grabbing her gun with practiced efficiency. Her movements were swift and deliberate as she aimed at the remaining robots, her shots precise and effective.

Ingrid tried to get up, her desire to help pushing her forward, but Bruce's firm grip on her arm pulled her back down.

"Dad! I want to help!" Ingrid protested, but the stern look on her father's face made her groan in frustration. She sat back down, crossing her arms in defiance, though her concern for the ongoing battle was palpable.

Sitting on the floor, Ingrid listened to the chaotic sounds of gunfire and fighting. The noise was overwhelming, but then Ultron’s eerie voice cut through the chaos, drawing her attention.

"That was dramatic! I'm sorry, I know you mean well. You just didn't think it through. You want to protect the world, but you don't want it to change," Ultron taunted. Ingrid flinched at the sight of him, the robot’s menacing presence as intimidating as ever.

"How is humanity saved if it's not allowed to...evolve?" Ultron continued, picking up a torn robot by its head and crushing it in his hand. The metal fragments clattered to the ground, and Ingrid’s gaze darted to her teammates. They were all visibly hurt and angry, their expressions hardened by Ultron’s cruel words.

Ingrid clenched her jaw, trying to suppress the fear and anger bubbling inside her. Ultron’s words struck a nerve, and she could feel her legs trembling as she gripped the edge of the bar for support.

"There’s only one path to peace: The Avengers’ extinction," Ultron declared, his voice dripping with malevolent satisfaction.

Ingrid closed her eyes tightly, the weight of Ultron's declaration pressing down on her. She tried to steady her breathing, focusing on the rough texture of the bar to ground herself.

When she opened her eyes again she saw Thor, with a determined expression, hurling Mjolnir at Ultron. The hammer struck the robot with a deafening crash, shattering Ultron’s frame into pieces. The once imposing figure of Ultron was reduced to debris, and the hammer whirled back to Thor's outstretched hand.

Ultron's final words echoed eerily as his power faded. "I had strings, but now I’m free... There are no strings on me, no strings on me..." His voice trailed off into a haunting melody.