[Warning: Kate experiences intense anxiety in this section.]

Sam doesn't take too long to find Kate; she chose a set of two chairs in the alcove behind the bar, a little table between them. Her warm hand shakes as she takes the cool water, but she isn't sure if he notices.

"So... you come here often?" he jokes, trying to ease some tension.

Kate chuckles, but she can't muster much more. She wishes she could, tries to tap back into what she once had, that easy ability to just banter. The fun of the back and forth. But all she can see is his face. She takes a drink, trying to make it go away, but then she's just washed in guilt. "To be fair... I'm usually training or in the lab, so... not really."

"You never take a break, do you?"

She shrugs. "Don't have the time."

"You do now," he counters. "Mission's over. You can get back to stuff you really want to do."

"All of that is... in the lab."

He chuckles, then thinks a moment. "You said you might go back to teaching classes earlier. What was that about? You used to teach?"

She drinks more water, tries to keep her hands still. "Yeah, I was a professor. Just... a few intro classes here and there."

"I can only imagine you as a professor."

"Wh-What, you don't think I can teach?"

"No, I just think you'd be the hardest grader ever and give out the longest, most comprehensive tests in the whole department." He laughs.

She shrugs again. "My st-students seemed to like me — to a degree."

"Well, I'm sure you explained the material well. You know, to balance all the rest out."

"That's the goal." She drinks more water, draining the glass without meaning to. What next? They've exhausted this subject, surely. What should she ask him? All she can think about is Riley, and that is for sure a no-go. Why is this so hard?

"You want some more water?"

"S-Sure. Thanks."

He takes her glass and walks off, and Kate shakes out her hands, wiping them on her dress again, trying to cool them down. She moves her hair, shifts in her seat, tries to think. What is there to talk about? How does this work? How many times will she have to do this before it doesn't feel so awful anymore? Would it even be worth it?

"Here you go," Sam says, passing her the glass again. He sits back down, and Kate puts the water on the table, determined not to practically guzzle it this time.

"So... So you, um, you were in the military? Sp-Speaking of... past jobs..." she tries.

He nods. "I was. Pararescue. It's a lot of work and training, but I was good enough to get picked for the wings."

"I'll-I'll bet." She starts playing with the hem of her dress, trying to give her hands something to do.

He chuckles. "The first time I saw them, I couldn't believe it. It was a total test run; I thought I was gonna fall out of the sky..."

Kate meets his eyes, watches his mouth move, hands gesturing as he tells the story. But she can't stay focused, the knot in her chest tighter than it's ever been, guilt welling up as her heart beats faster. The back of her throat starts to burn, like she's going to throw up. This isn't getting better — it's getting worse. How can she do this a second time? A third? Why did she even try at all? How could she do this?

"Kate, are you okay?" Sam suddenly asks.

She looks at him for a moment. She never likes to answer that, but now? "It... It's questions like that make me wish I was a good liar..."

"What's up? Did I do something wrong?"

She shakes her head, choosing one guilt over another. "No... and that's why this sucks."

"Ah."

She looks up again. "I'm sorry, but I-I just can't."

"It's cool," he says. "I get it."

"I really wish I could, but I can't — I'd tell you why, but I-I can't get into it, I almost never do-"

"I get it, Kate." He sighs. "Trust me, I used to lead group therapy... I've seen this sort of thing before."

It's a bit of a relief, but not enough. "I'm sorry."

"Kate, it's fine," he insists. "No offense, but it's not like I'm in love with you. I'll recover."

She nods, breathing out as the knot starts to loosen, her heart rate beginning to slow. "Good."

"So..." he holds up his glass "... water as friends?"

She smiles, clinking her glass with his. "Yeah. Yeah, friends."

[End of anxiety]

They talk through much of the party, others joining on occasion, including Nat, Bruce, and Hill. Steve eventually returns, laughing over a bunch of old veterans insisting on drinking Thor's special Asgard alcohol. It didn't go well for them, apparently. Nat comes back over as he finishes his description.

"Hey, guys. Still here I see?" She raises a brow, throwing a pointed look at Kate. "Well, Steve and I-" she loops her arm around his, and his cheeks turn pink "-should probably head somewhere else and leave you to your interesting conversation." Kate shifts, her chest getting tight again.

"No, you can join us," Sam says. "Just a conversation between friends."

Nat lets go of Steve, her look disappearing. "Never mind, then."

"Unless you want talk to Steve alone?"

Steve starts. "Wilson-"

Sam raises his hands in surrender. "I'm just saying, man."

"Shoe's on the other foot now, isn't it?" Kate remarks. "Next thing you know, the two of you will be forced to jump out of jets when that was absolutely never in your job description."

"Does that mean you'll finally be good at lying?" Nat fires back.

"Oh, that was a good one," Steve says, high-fiving her.

Sam shakes his head. "So the Avengers are a bunch of children? Yeah, I feel real safe."

Kate laughs. "I'm surprised you're just realizing this now."

"Anyway," Nat continues, "since you've been back here all night, I'm here to drag you out to the dance floor."

"I don't dance."

"Then just stand there and talk. I did a really good job on that braid, and I think everyone should see my handiwork. Plus, Clint's finally joining us."

Kate sighs, letting Nat drag her off. "Fine."

Clint and Nat try to ask about Sam, but then Bruce and Tony join them, so they thankfully drop the subject. Eventually, the guests begin to leave, making the space feel more empty. Tony switches off the music, too, saying, "Is anybody else hungry?"

"Starved," Nat replies.

"What do you guys want? What are you in the mood for?"

Clint thinks a moment, then says, "Chinese."

"Done deal. I'll order it. What do you want?"

Clint, Nat, Kate, and Bruce give him their orders, then he moves on to Hill, Cho, and Thor. Steve is saying goodbye to Sam at the door, so Kate heads over. "Hey."

"Hey," Sam says with a small smile.

"You don't want to stay? Tony's ordering Chinese."

He chuckles. "No, I think I'll get back to my hotel. I've got an early flight tomorrow, but thanks for the offer."

"Yeah..."

"I'll see you around, Kate," he says, in a tone that clearly tells her to stop feeling guilty about it.

"See you around."

Once he's gone, Steve turns to Kate. "So, um... what was that about?"

Kate hurries away. "Go tell Tony what you want to eat!"

"Kate!"

She safely makes it to a couch without having to say anything, merely watching as the others push couches and chairs into a circle. The food doesn't take long to arrive, so they all eat and talk. Kate stares across the circle at Thor's hammer, and a lull in the conversation finally allows her to ask, "So, what's up with that thing, anyway?"

"What do you mean?" Thor questions, his mouth full of food.

"Firstly, you never answered all my questions when you said you would, so you owe me a lot of explanations."

"Well, ask away."

"Why couldn't you lift it the first time? And also, as a side question, why couldn't the literal Hulk lift it a few years ago? On the Helicarrier?"

"Oh, well, that's a sort of..." he thinks a moment "... spell, put on it by my father. It's this rune here, see?" He points to the markings on the side. "It says, in short, that only those who are worthy can lift the hammer and possess the power of Thor — that is, me."

"So, what, you weren't worthy the first time?"

"I was not, when he first banished me from Asgard. But I am now, of course."

"And the Hulk isn't worthy?"

"Evidently not."

Clint shakes his head. "It's a trick, Kate. It's a party trick."

"Oh, no," Thor laughs. "It's much more than that."

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

Thor gestures to the hammer. "Well, please, be my guest."

The whole group goes silent, eyes on Clint. He throws up his hands. "Really?"

"Yeah!"

"Oh, this is gonna be beautiful," Rhodey remarks as Clint stands.

Tony pipes up, "Clint, you've had a tough week, we won't hold it against you." Kate just laughs.

"You know I've seen this before, right?" Clint says, and Thor nods. He grabs the handle, pulling, but it doesn't budge. He laughs. "I still don't know how you do it! You couldn't for a second there and then bam — Thor's in town."

"Smell the silent judgment?" Tony asks.

"Please, Stark, by all means."

"Oh, here we go," Nat says.

Rhodey laughs. "Uh-oh."

"Never one to shrink from an honest challenge," Tony declares.

Kate snorts. "You got that right."

"It's physics," he says, putting the loop around his wrist.

"Physics?!" Bruce exclaims.

Tony pauses. "Right, so, if I lift it, I... I then rule Asgard?"

Thor nods. "Yes, of course."

"I will be fair, but firm, and will have a hundred statues of my likeness built throughout the kingdom," Tony says, then beginning to pull. Of course, nothing happens. "I'll be right back." A minute or so later, he's back with an arm of his suit on, and it's still not working. "Rhodes? A little help?"

Rhodey sighs, but he puts on an arm of his own suit, and they begin to pull together. Everyone laughs through the whole thing as they struggle in vain.

"Are you even pulling?" Rhodey asks.

"Are you on my team?" Tony fires back.

"Just represent! Pull!"

"Alright, let's go!"

"Guys, it's not gonna work," Bruce remarks, prompting them to stop.

Tony furrows his brows. "Alright then, big fella, you give it a go."

Bruce shakes his head. "If the other guy can't-"

"But you're not the other guy," Steve points out.

"Come on, Bruce!" Kate encourages.

He sighs. "This isn't going to work."

"Well, not with that attitude," Clint jokes.

Bruce pulls for a moment, realizes he was right, then begins roaring, pretending as if he's turning into the Hulk. Kate chuckles, but that's about all the reaction he gets. "Seriously?"

"It's a tough crowd out here, man," Rhodey says.

"So, who's next?" Hill asks.

Kate shrugs. "If anyone can do it, it's Steve."

"No pressure," Tony says, pushing him up there.

Kate leans forward, watching as Steve tugs, straining. The front of the hammer shifts, but it goes no farther, the rest of it still firmly on the table. Thor laughs. "Nothing."

Tony gestures to those left. "So?"

"Kate?" Bruce asks.

She shakes her head. "I already know; I've tried before, back when that thing first hit the earth."

"And?" Steve prompts.

Kate shrugs. "You'll never know."

"She couldn't lift it," Clint and Thor confirm simultaneously.

"Gee, thanks guys."

"I knew that, too," Nat remarks.

"So did I," Hill adds.

Kate rolls her eyes. "We could've kept it a secret, but no."

"I recall you lighting your hands in flames and presumably telling Thor, a man whom you did not know and who had just knocked out almost all of our agents, that he could go and lift it in exchange for giving you information about your little science project. Is that correct?" Clint asks.

Thor nods. "That is how it happened, yes."

Kate rolls her eyes. "I can speak for myself, thank you. That is how it happened, yes. And I got the info we needed, too. So there." She sticks her tongue out at Clint.

Steve chuckles, then nudges Nat with his elbow. "Nat?"

"Oh, no, no," she replies. "That's not a question I need answered."

"I'm out," Hill declares.

"As am I," Cho agrees.

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

Clint, in his agreement, swears. Hill gasps. "Steve, he said a bad language word."

Steve groans. "Did you tell everyone about that?"

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

"Yes, well that's a very interesting theory. I have a simpler one." Thor stands, picking up the hammer with ease. He flips it. "You're all not worthy."

A piercing noise cuts through the laughter, and then another, haunting voice breaks in, coming from a tattered Iron Legion bot that's just crept into the room. "Worthy... No... How could you be worthy? You're all killers."

"Stark," Steve says.

Tony grabs his card, trying to fix it. "JARVIS?"

"I'm sorry, I was asleep," the bot says, starting to sound more human. "Or... I was a... dream?"

"Reboot, Legionnaire OS. We got a buggy suit."

"There was a terrible noise... and I was tangled in... in... strings." The bot stumbles, it's arms moving jaggedly as its head turns. "I had to kill the other guy. He was a good guy."

"You killed someone?" Nat asks.

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

Thor shifts forward carefully. "Who sent you?"

The voice that comes out of the bot changes, now a much more familiar one. "'I see a suit of armor around the world.'"

"Ultron," Kate says, Bruce not far behind.

"In the flesh," he says. "Or, no, not yet. Not this... chrysalis. But I'm ready. I'm on a mission."

"What mission?" Clint asks.

"Peace in our time."

The Iron Legion suddenly bust through the wall, attacking them with a vengeance.