Captain's Hart and Soul

Chapter 4 Ultron

Arianna was still laughing when Tony returned, his suit jacket removed and his dress shirt sleeves rolled up... and his Iron Man armour attached to his hand. Tony ignored her as he tugged on Mjolnir once more, even turning on the flight jets.

Helen began to laugh with Arianna as Tony still failed to lift the hammer, and Maria joined in when Tony enlisted Rhodey's help. The two men grabbed the hammer with their armour-encased hands, and Rhodey demanded as the hammer didn't budge: "Are you even pulling?"

"Are you on my team?" Tony shot back and Rhodey pointed out as both of them fired their flight jets: "Just represent! Pull!"

"Alright, let's go!" Tony bit out through his grit teeth, and they pulled as hard as they could but the hammer didn't budge.

Next up to try was Bruce, who placed his feet on the coffee table on each side of the hammer and he took Mjolnir in both hands. He yelled out as he pulled with all his might, trying to change into the Hulk and use the other guy's immense strength. Unfortunately, it ended with him moving back off the hammer, still Bruce.

The team stared at him, Clint's side of the table unimpressed, while Thor, Steve, and Arianna were looking highly amused. Nat grinned indulgently as she looked at Bruce, and shook her head. Bruce sheepishly placed his hands in his pockets as he tried: "Huh?"

Steve grinned at Thor, who was casually sipping on his glass of beer, before he stood up. Arianna patted his arm encouragingly as he walked off towards the hammer, while Tony called: "Let's go, Steve, no pressure."

The women were all smiling again, completely amused by the spectacle the men were making of themselves, and Nat winked at Arianna as Steve rolled up his sleeves. The brunette rolled her eyes good-naturedly before she focused her full attention on the super-soldier as he grabbed the hammer.

"Come on, Cap." Tony called in a surprising show of support, making Arianna smile although they were all surprised when the hammer actually budged slightly. Arianna glanced over at Thor to see the smile had disappeared off the God's face as he was also taken aback, making her grin proudly.

Unfortunately, that was the most Steve could do, and he gave up with a defeated sigh. Arianna chuckled, particularly as she saw the relief wash over Thor's face before he laughed. Steve raised his hands in defeat, smiling good-naturedly as he returned to his seat and Thor chuckled: "Nothing."

Arianna grinned at her boyfriend as he settled back down, kissing his cheek and nudging him a little playfully. He grinned back but to her surprise he didn't hug her, only raising his brows expectantly. The men were all glancing between her and Nat, Bruce clearing his throat as he gestured at Nat pointedly.

Both Nat and Arianna's smiles faded slightly in confusion, until Tony said with his brows raised: "And?"

"Widow?" Bruce suggested, while Steve teased: "Aria?"

Arianna snorted, jabbing Steve in the stomach for his cheek, while Nat scoffed: "Oh, no no. That's not a question I need answered."

She leaned back, sipping on her beer, while Steve grinned and wrapped his arm around Arianna again, pulling her close.

"Well?" He asked and she laughed: "Get real. Nat and I know our limits... unlike some people."

She looked at them all pointedly, her eyes sparkling with amusement as Tony made a face at her and Clint pout. Steve just laughed, kissing the side of her head, while Tony quipped to Thor: "All deference to the man who wouldn't be king, but it's rigged."

Thor shrugged good-naturedly at the others' sore loser attitude as Tony and Rhodey stood drinking their bottles of beer, and Clint added as he got up to fetch his own: "You bet your ass."