A FEW DAYS had past and the party had commenced and was now in full swing. Lana laughed with Natasha - sipping on a cocktail. Steve was talking and playing pool with Sam and the rest of the team was dispersed among the guests. The two Romanoff siblings walked behind the bar and started making drinks as Bruce came over.

"I'll leave you two," Lana winked at Natasha and walked to the other side of the bar.

As they talked Steve came over to Lana. "Miss Romanoff."

"Mr Rogers," she pushed a cocktail towards him, "How are you enjoying the evening?"

"It's nice. I haven't really been to a party in a while," he smiled at her.

"Remind me to take you to one. Preferably a bit," she tried to find the right word, "Wilder."

"What like a club?" Steve's head was cocked to the side in confusion and Lana smiled at him.

"Yes Steve, a club," Lana nodded with a smile marring her features.

Natasha walked away from Bruce and the couple smirked, "It's nice," Steve told him.

"W-what is?" Bruce stuttered.

"You and Natasha," Lana answered.

"No, we haven't... That wasn't..."

"It's okay," Steve laughed, "Nobody's breaking any bylaws." Lana quietly snorted at the irony.

"She's not the most open person in the world," Lana continued, "But with you, she seems very relaxed."

"No, Natasha, she's just... She likes to flirt," Bruce stammered.

"We know," Lana shrugged reaching over the counter to get a beer for Steve and a cherry for herself. She popped it into her mouth and Steve's eyes followed her movements. He looked away remembering that no one was supposed to know.

Bruce scoffed. "Look, as maybe the world's leading authority on waiting too long, don't," Steve told him, "You both deserve a win." Bruce nodded and the couple walked away.

The party continued and as the guests left the team sat in the main living room. They were laughing and talking about Thor's hammer, "But it's a trick," Clint said.

"No, no, it's much more than that," Thor laughed passing a beer to Steve.

"Ah. Whosoever be worthy shall haveth the power," Clint mocked Thor's deep voice causing Lana to laugh, "Whatever man! It's a trick."

"Please, be my guest." Thor pointed towards where the hammer sat.

They all looked at Clint.

"Come on," Tony encouraged.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, this is gonna be beautiful," Rhodey commented. Lana laughed.

"Clint, you've had a tough week. We won't hold it against you if you can't get it up," Tony teased. They all laughed.

"You know I've seen this before, right," Clint said to Thor. Clint grabbed the end of the hammer and grunted as he tried to pick it up. He laughed, "I still don't know how you do it!"

"Smell the silent judgement?" Tony asked.

"Please, Stark, by all means," Clint offered. Tony got up and unbuttoned his blazer as he cleared his throat.

"Uh-oh," Rhodey muttered.

"Never one to shrink from an honest challenge. It's physics," he slipped his hand through the band on the end and looked at Thor, "Right, so, if I lift it, I then rule Asgard?"

"Yes, of course," Thor nodded.

"I will be reinstituting prima nocta," Tony spoke- then tried to lift it.

"Come on Tony you have Asgard to rule," Lana reminded sarcastically.

He removed his hand from the band, "I'll be right back." He came back a moment later with the suit of his hand and tried to pick it up.

He then called Rhodey to help him as well and they both lifted with the suit hands, "Are you even pulling?" Rhodey asked.

"Are you on my team?" Tony questioned.

"Just represent. Pull," Rhodey stated. Bruce went next and he yelled trying to pick it up. Lana turned in her seat to contain her laughter.

Steve got up from next to her, "Go ahead, Steve. No pressure," Tony said. He went around the table and rolled up his shirt sleeve.

"Come on Cap," Clint encouraged as he wrapped his hands around the base and started to pull. It moved a smidge and Thor's face dropped. He tried once more before sighing and backing off.

Thor laughed, "Nothing."

"And Widow?" Bruce pointed towards Natasha.

"Oh, no, no. That's not a question I need to be answered," Natasha replied and took a sip of her beer.

"Lana?" Steve asked.

"No thanks, I don't want to rule a kingdom when I can barely take care of myself," she laughed.

"That's not true," Steve replied.

"The only thing I have in my cupboard is Cheerios."

"Cheerios?" Natasha laughed.

"Yeah, they're amazing. I think have Ramen and Coco-Puffs too," Lana smiled.

"Actually," Steve started guiltily, "I ate your Coco-Puffs."

"You ate my Coco-Puffs?" Steve nodded, "I was looking for those."

"Wait you've been to her house?" Tony questioned. Steve shrugged, "Anyway, all deference to the 'Man Who Wouldn't Be King' but it's rigged."

"You bet your ass," Clint agreed.

"Steve he said a bad language word," Maria joked.

"Did you tell everyone about that?" Steve asked Tony.

"Yes," Lana laughed.

Tony ignored him, "The handle's imprinted right? Like a security code. Whosoever is carrying Thor's fingerprints is I think the literal translation," Tony joked as Thor got up.

"Yes. It's a very, very interesting theory. I have a simpler one," He picked up the hammer and flipped it, "You're all not worthy." Lana laughed as the rest of the team groaned.

A high-pitch noise rang out and Lana rubbed her temples as she felt a headache occur. Tony looked at his phone confused as an animatronic voice spoke with dragged out letters, "Worthy."

They all looked towards it, "No. How could you be worthy? You're all killers."

"Stark," Steve said cautiously.

"Jarvis," he called for the AI.

"I'm sorry I was asleep. Or was I a dream?" The broken suit spoke.

"Reboot Legionnaire OS. We got a buggy suit," Tony tapped at his phone.

"There was this terrible noise," it continued, "And I was tangled in... In... Strings. I had to kill the other guy. He was a good guy," Lana's brows furrowed in confusion.

"You killed someone," Steve questioned.

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

"Who sent you?" Thor demanded.

It screeched before a recording of Stark played, "I see a suit of armour around the world."

Bruce looked shocked, "Ultron."

"In the flesh. Or, no, not yet. Not this chrysalis. But I'm ready." Lana's hands twitched behind her back, itching to get on with the fight, "I'm on a mission."

"What mission?" Lana asked.

"Peace in our time."

All hell broke loose.