Thor sat at one end of the table, his powerful arms crossed over his chest, his blond hair cascading over his broad shoulders as he stared down at the pizza menu with a look of intense concentration. Across from him, Yelena Belova sat with her legs tucked up on the chair, the expression on her face nothing short of incredulous as she glared at him.
"Thor," Yelena began, her voice laced with disbelief, "you seriously can't be saying you think pineappleis the best pizza topping."
Thor looked up at her, his blue eyes narrowed as though she had insulted his honor. "Pineapple is a gift from the gods themselves, Yelena. Its sweet, succulent flavor is the perfect contrast to the richness of the cheese and the saltiness of the ham." He paused, sitting up straighter as though he was making a proclamation. "It brings balance to the dish, as all things should."
Yelena snorted, tossing the menu onto the table. "You sound like you're talking about some Asgardian delicacy. This is pizza we're talking about, Thor. Pizza. And pineapple? It just makes it soggy. And too sweet." She shook her head, her blonde hair falling into her eyes before she pushed it back with an impatient gesture. "Real pizza toppings are savory. Pepperoni, sausage, maybe some peppers if you're feeling fancy."
"Pineapple is fancy!" Thor exclaimed, his brow furrowing deeply. "It is a flavor known and cherished across many realms, not just this one. You mortals just don't understand its complexity." He pointed a large finger at her, his lips quirking into a smirk. "It is a topping fit for a king."
Yelena gave him an unimpressed look, her arms crossing over her chest as she leaned back in her chair. "I'm not exactly a 'mortal' anymore, Thor. I'm an enhanced assassin, remember? And even I can't get behind pineapple on pizza." She jabbed a finger into the air, her voice rising as her passion for pizza overtook her usual calm. "The best pizza is pepperoni. No discussion."
"Pepperoni is fine," Thor said dismissively, waving his hand. "But it is a single note. A predictable, singular experience that does not offer the culinary journey that pineapple does."
Yelena stared at him, incredulous. "A culinary journey? Thor, you throw slabs of meat on fire and call it dinner. How are you suddenly the expert on ‘culinary journeys’?"
Thor let out a booming laugh, leaning forward on his elbows. "I do not simply 'throw slabs of meat on fire,' Yelena. There is a technique to it, a timing and patience—"
"You eat Pop-Tarts for breakfast, don't even lie."
"Pop-Tarts," Thor said, unabashed, "are truly magnificent. If I could feast on them in Valhalla, I would."
Yelena couldn't help but laugh at that. Despite the tension over their toppings argument, she had always found Thor's unabashed love for Earth foods endearing. His large frame sitting at the table discussing pizza toppings and Pop-Tarts made him seem almost… ordinary. And she loved that about him.
The banter continued as they looked over the menu, the couple clearly at a standstill on what to order. Yelena stared pointedly at the menu, her fingers drumming on the table.
"Listen," Yelena said after a moment of silence, setting the menu down, "how about we compromise? Half the pizza your way, with pineapple, and the other half mine, with pepperoni. We’ll see which half disappears first, and that will settle the debate."
Thor raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the challenge. "You believe the mortals' simple pepperoni will outshine the tropical splendor of pineapple?"
Yelena shot him a sly grin. "I know it will. It's the perfect combination of savory and spicy. You’ll see."
Thor chuckled, clearly enjoying the fire in her eyes. "Very well, Yelena. Let us embark on this culinary contest." He waved over the server, and they placed their order: one large pizza, half pineapple and ham, half pepperoni.
As they waited for the pizza, the conversation shifted to lighter topics. Thor shared stories of his adventures in Asgard, tales of epic battles, and the creatures he had vanquished. Yelena listened with rapt attention, though every now and then she would roll her eyes at his more dramatic flourishes. She responded with her own stories of missions with the Avengers, the various espionage exploits she had been a part of.
But beneath the banter, there was an undeniable affection between them. The way Thor's eyes softened when he looked at her, and the way Yelena would smirk at his more absurd declarations, it was clear that their relationship had blossomed into something more than just a casual fling. They were two warriors from very different worlds who had found common ground in their strength and shared sense of humor.
The pizza arrived, and the competition officially began.
Thor took a bite of his pineapple and ham pizza with exaggerated enthusiasm, letting out a satisfied moan. "Ah, the sweetness! The saltiness! The perfect harmony of flavors!" He shot Yelena a challenging look. "Surely you cannot deny its glory."
Yelena rolled her eyes but took a bite of her pepperoni slice, savoring the smoky, spicy flavor. "This," she said, pointing to her pizza, "is what pizza should taste like. Simple, bold, and satisfying. None of that sweet nonsense."
They continued to eat in silence for a few moments, each focused on their own half of the pizza. But soon enough, the debate started up again, with Thor insisting that pineapple added a refreshing contrast, while Yelena maintained that pizza should never be sweet.
"You know," Yelena said between bites, "I never thought I'd be sitting across from a Norse god, arguing about pizza toppings."
Thor grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Life is full of surprises, Lady Yelena. I never thought I would find myself in a mortal kitchen, ordering pizza and enjoying it as much as I do." His gaze softened as he looked at her. "But it is your company that makes these experiences worthwhile."
Yelena paused, her eyes meeting his. There was a sincerity in his voice that caught her off guard. For all their banter and bickering, Thor had a way of cutting through her defenses with his earnestness. It was something she had come to appreciate about him.
"You're lucky you're charming, Thor," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Otherwise, I might actually throw a slice of that pineapple pizza at you."
Thor laughed, his eyes twinkling. "I would gladly accept such an offering from you, my fierce assassin."
As the pizza slowly disappeared, it became clear that there would be no true winner in their contest. They had both devoured their respective halves with equal enthusiasm, and neither was willing to concede defeat.
In the end, it didn’t really matter. The competition had been an excuse for them to spend time together, to argue playfully and enjoy each other’s company.
As they sat back, full and content, Yelena wiped her mouth with a napkin and looked at Thor, her expression softening. "Okay, fine. I’ll admit it. Pineapple pizza… it’s not the worst thing I’ve ever had. It’s still weird, though."
Thor smirked, leaning over the table to brush a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "And I will admit that pepperoni is indeed bold and satisfying. But I maintain that pineapple reigns supreme."
Yelena scoffed but didn’t pull away from his touch. "Agree to disagree, then?"
"Agree to disagree," Thor echoed, his hand lingering by her cheek.
They sat there for a moment, the warmth of their connection wrapping around them like a cozy blanket. The argument over pizza had been silly, but it was moments like these that made their relationship special. They could bicker and tease, but at the end of the day, they respected and cared for each other.
Thor leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, and Yelena closed her eyes, a soft smile on her lips.
"Next time, we’ll settle it with a sparring match," Yelena murmured, her eyes fluttering open.
Thor chuckled. "If I win, we feast on pineapple pizza for a week."
Yelena smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief. "And if I win, we stick to pepperoni. Forever."
Thor’s eyes gleamed as he met her challenge. "Very well. May the best warrior win."
They both knew that, in the end, it didn’t matter who won. Whether it was pizza toppings or sparring matches, they would always have each other’s backs. And that was more important than any culinary debate.