First dates
Steve was relieved when Thor caught up to them. "I thought it would be nice to tag along and spend time with my sister. " Hela rolled her eyes. "Why not spend time with your Joten half breed sibling." Thor frowned "Loki and I live together at most times, you I do not see as often however I am reminded why."
"Well this is awkward. How about we go see Coney Island today? I know you haven't been yet Thor." They stopped their bickering. "An excellent idea Steven. Come sister you will enjoy this day." As they walked out to catch a can Hela noted the amount of children dressed in costumes. "What is this death celebration of yours on midgard?" Steve smiled "well the way we do it here is the way the Irish, my people did it. You dress up in a costume and in the evening You knock on someone's door. They open the door and you say trick or treat. They either give you a treat, usually candy or you play a trick on them. Nowadays kids mostly do it. It's fun and there's lots of treats involved."
Hela wrinkled her nose. "How quaint and what does this have to do with the dead?" Steve hailed a cab and gestured for them to get inside. "Coney Island please." He looked back to Hela "well the holiday itself celebrates those who have died. We dress up to fool the spirits that come back to the land of the living. Over the years it has changed a little with the times but at its core it's still the same." She slid over to him. "Well I don't see you in a costume. So what happens if you can't fool the spirits?" She was practically in his lap at this point.
"Well um…nothing really happens. They used to think if the spirits found out you were a living person they could possess your soul." She ran a hand down his face and cupped his cheek. "Wouldn't that be such a shame..a body like yours ravaged by a being of death." Thor had his face buried in his hands. "Helaaaaa" he groaned "let the Captain alone." After a car ride that could only be equated to a poorly written porno the cab finally dropped them at Coney Island. Steve practically flew out of the car.
Bucky and Loki carefully decorated the sugar cookies as Bea placed them on trays. Loki was having much more success making neat designs with the frosting. "James what on earth is that?" He sat the piping bag down. "Its frankenstein." Loki and Bea had their heads turned Examining the cookie. Bucky quickly snatched the cookie and shoved the whole thing in his mouth. "Now isnuffin." Bea rolled her eyes "don't talk with your mouth full." Bucky smirked "need to teach Loki that."
Just as he had said it Wanda walked into the room, turned, and walked out. "It appears you have offended Wanda." Bucky laughed "she's a hard one to figure. Although she does appear to be going through that teen young adult phase where she thinks the old people, that means us by the way, should not be having any kind of sex. Thought to be fair, kid had to get the birds and the bees talk from some poor hydra agent and then just to be safe from Clint and his wife."
Loki shook their head. "Midgard is such an odd place when it comes to sex and nudity. I saw my parents naked plenty of times before." Bucky cringed "I only saw my siblings naked when they were babies. Now I was there when Becca was born….Steve's mom insisted. Could have lived my life not seeing that. She also gave us the talk in excruciatingly medically accurate detail. The Rogers household had no shame when it came to sex and the human body." Bea shrugged "we didn't keep secrets from our kids. Questions were answered open and honestly. I remember when Sam was born and Gina was there for it all. I got finished and she said Nope never doing that ma."
Loki chuckled "Smart woman. It is not to be taken lightly. My time as a midwife was rather enlightening."
"You were a midwife?" Loki nodded "I could not learn magic without learning that according to my father. I believe his thought was to scare me straight. Instead I excelled although many on Asgard refused to let me help. I brought my skills to the undesireables of our realm." Bea placed another tray of cookies down on the rack. "Were there that many?" Loki frowned "Asgard had it's inner circles and once a family.was cast out their generations remained so. Many.lived outside the palace walls with no protection. They were always the first victims of invaders."
There was a small commotion as Peter and Morgan bolted out of the elevator followed by Pepper and Happy. Peter bolted over to the cookies and reached for one "Ah ah , Peter, ask first. You too Morgan." They turned to Bea. "Mrs. Beatrice may we please have just one?" She smiled "of course but just one." Pepper smiled "Homework needs to be done before Happy takes you to Queens for trick or treat."
"Yes ma'am."
Bea set them up with a snack before they did their homework. She was quite aware that Peter needed to eat just as much as Steve. "Here honey." She placed a plate of sandwiches down. "I'm gonna miss having so many mouths to feed when I go back home." Bucky smiled and wrapped his arms around her "well as I said before maybe that just means you have to stay." She sighed as she leaned into him. "What if you came with me?"
"What?" She turned to face him. "What if you came to live with me?" He had never considered that a possibility. "I um…. That would be…. Would Gina be ok with that?"
"Who cares, it's my house." He sat down in the chair. "Wow….I never considered moving out. Can I think about it?" She smiled "of course take all the time you need and if you decide it's not best you are still welcome to visit at any time." Buck pulled her into his lap and gave her a kiss. "What would I do without ya mama bear?" At that moment his stomach growled "apparently you would starve"
Before they concluded their day at Coney Island Steve took Thor and Hela to get the best hotdogs in town. He came back to their table and handed them each a plate. Thor took his and began to eat it no questions asked. Hela stared at it as though it would bite her. "What is this made of." Steve smirked "The first rule of enjoying a hotdog, don't ask how it's made. Trust me it's good. Have I steered you wrong at all today?" She grumbled under her breath but took a careful bite of the hotdog. She then began to eat it in the most obscene way possible. Steve buried his face behind his hands. "Are you sure no one bet you money to mess with me?"
Hela wiped her mouth and looked at him. "How else am I going to get your attention. I have offered myself to you and yet you act as though I am nothing." He let out a frustrated sigh. "Didn't you parents teach you how to woo someone? I mean Thor and Loki seem to know." She frowned. "Women like me do not woo nor do suitors woo us we must take what we want for we will otherwise not get it." He shook his head "what do you mean women like you?"
"Strong, fierce, self reliant women. My purpose is not to serve a man. I only serve myself." Steve perked up a bit at this. "You are convinced that strong independent women are not able to find honest love?" She nodded her head. "Hela….that's actually sad. No one's ever tried to win your heart?" She shook her head. "I am not a fair maiden. I am a warrior."
"Tell ya what. Rather than take me by force or by gross inuendo how about I take you on a date? Nice dinner, dancing, the works. Would you like that?" Thor was silent as he watched them. Hela seemed to be carefully considering his offer. "You would try to win my affections by honest means?" He smiled "of course. You can be my date for the party tonight. We will see where it goes. Now this works both ways, I have the right to stop things just as much as you do. We both have the right to say no." She quietly nodded "ok Captain. We will try it your way." Thor couldn't help but smile. Perhaps some good would come from this.
Happy took Peter and Morgan to trick or treat while Pepper Bruce Loki and Bucky decorated for the party. Bea was cooking more food while Tony was setting up lights and a fog machine on the balcony. Natasha arrived with more decorations in hand and looked around. "Good thing it's a friday night. I'd hate to have to tear the kids away from this." Thor came in with Hela but Steve was nowhere to be seen.
"Natasha! Perfect. If you are not busy might I request your assistance?" She smiled "of course Thor. This must be your sister Hela. Loki has told me much about you."
"All horrible I'm sure." Natasha didn't flinch "no, not all of it. What can I help with?"
Thor patted Hela's back. "My sister needs some assistance looking more presentable for her date tonight with Steven." Bucky and Loki both dropped what they were holding. "He agreed to a date with her?" Thor was beaming "agree, It was his suggestion. He offered my dear sister a chance to win his affection properly, that said we require some assistance as Hela's appearance leaves much to be desired."
Natasha grinned and turned to Pepper. "I think we can handle this. Right Pepper?" She walked over "of course. Steve will barely recognize you when we are through." They left with Hela as Loki and Bucky continued to gawk. "Keep your mouth open any longer a fly is liable to go in there." Thor laughed. "Do not be so surprised. The Captain is enough of a gentleman to give Hela a fair chance. Once he realized she had never been properly wooed he offered her a proper date." Bucky raked his hand through his hair. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph he always was a sucker for dames like that."