Combustion ✦ STEVE ROGERS² [✓]

04 | NO STRINGS ON ME

AS IT GREW LATER, THE PARTY CAME TO A CLOSE. The guests all left, the numbers dwindling down until just Kato, the team, Hill, and Rhodey were left. They all gathered around a small coffee table, with some of them lounging on a few of the couches and others standing up around them.

Kato sat on one of the couches, relaxing next to Natasha. However, Kato had noticed that Steve had been watching her for most of the night. It was strange. He'd never looked at her that way before. If Kato didn't know any better, it was almost a look of... subtle attraction? It was like a guy wanting to ask his crush on a date, but wasn't sure how to approach her. But despite the unusual look, Kato had noticed a lot of people staring at her, so she figured it was just the outfit and dismissed it as that.

"But, it's a trick!" Clint yelled, twirling drumsticks in his hands as he referred to Thor's hammer, which lay handle-up on the table.

"No, no," Thor told Clint. "It's much more than that."

"Ah, 'Whosoever be he worthy shall haveth the power!'" Clint said in an overly dramatic voice, then rolled his eyes and went on, "Whatever man! It's a trick."

As the rest of the team laughed, Thor gestured to his hammer. "Please, be my guest."

The room was silent for a moment as they all took in Thor's challenge, waiting for Clint's response. Kato glanced at Natasha, who grinned at her. This is going to be good.

Tony raised an eyebrow. "Come on."

Clint gave the god of thunder a surprised look. "Really?"

"Yeah!" Tony agreed.

"Oh this is gonna be beautiful," Rhodey said as Clint stood up.

"Clint, you've had a tough week, we won't hold it against you if you can't get it up," Tony said to the man, causing the others to laugh.

Clint glanced at the group with a scoff. "You know I've seen this before, right?" Turning to the hammer, he wrapped his fingers around the handle and grasped it in one hand before he gave a pull. But it wouldn't budge. So he pulled again. Still nothing. He pulled a third time. No result. So he simply chuckled and turned to Thor. "I still don't know how you do it!"

Thor simply gave him a small shrug, smiling behind his drink.

Tony raised his eyebrows at Clint. "Smell the silent judgment?"

Clint motioned to the hammer. "Please, Stark, by all means."

"Oh, here we go," Natasha said as Tony got up.

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

"Get after it," Clint told him.

Kato rolled her eyes. "Here we go."

"It's physics," Tony said as he slipped his wrist into the hammer's strap and grabbed the handle.

"Physics," Bruce agreed.

Tony grabbed the handle of Thor's hammer, then looked at Thor and asked, "Right, so, if I lift it, I... I then rule Asgard?"

"Yes, of course," Thor said with a nod.

Tony nodded once, bracing one foot against the table. "I will be re-instituting prima nocta." He then tried to lift the hammer, but, just like Clint, failed. So he turned to the group and said, "I'll be right back." Then he walked off.

Kato smiled widely when Tony returned, wearing his Iron Man armor on his hand. He then unsuccessfully tried to lift the hammer again using the armor before turning to Rhodey and asking for his help. Rhodey armored up his hand, and the two tried to lift Thor's hammer. They pulled as hard as they could, but still couldn't even make it budge.