Shipment
Hazel’s POV
Hazel felt everyone’s eyes turn to her and Thor as they entered the dining room. Tony snickered at the sight of her in Thor’s oversized shirt.
“Everyone, this is Lady Hazel. She will be lodging with us for a while.” Thor broke the silence. Hazel resisted the urge to roll her eyes and give Thor a friendly punch on the shoulder knowing it would provoke an even more confused response from the group. Even though she felt uncomfortable with him called her a Lady, there was something oddly comforting and almost provoking about it.
“Hi.” Hazel waved awkwardly, still feeling four sets of eyes on her. Tony jokingly waved back and Steve, Bruce and another man she didn’t know smiled. Bruce stood up from his chair and walked towards Hazel.
“Good morning, Hazel. How are you feeling?” Bruce was quite direct and it took her a second to realize he was talking about her healing ribs. “I was awfully worried when you weren’t in your room this morning. Too much movement can cause more harm you know.”
“I just needed some fresh air.” Hazel was looking down towards the ground, not wanting to say anything about the previous night.
“Any strenuous activities, firecracker?” Tony questioned loudly as he left the kitchenette with a mug in his hand, smirking at his own wit. Both Hazel and Thor went red.
“N…No, nothing like that.” Bruce looked relieved, not wanting to ask the question himself. The rest of the room visibly lightened.
“Seriously Tony? Give the girl a break, she just got here and she already has to deal with your bullshit.” Announced a female voice from behind Hazel which caused her to jump and spin around.
“Natasha Romanov but you can just call me Nat.” The red haired woman clad in tight fitting work out clothes extended her hand to Hazel who took it hesitantly. Damn she’s hot. Why is everyone in the God damn tower hot? Hazel let her arm fall back to her side.
Natasha walked past the three people standing near the elevator and stepped into the kitchen. She began pulling things out of the cabinets.
“Are you just going to stand there or are you going to get something to eat?” Natasha asked. Hazel stepped forward alongside Thor and Bruce. Bruce asked Hazel a few more questions about her pain and other health information. Within minutes and some random conversation switches, they were in a full blown discussion about biochemistry in the kitchen.
“You could never create an Android that powerful! I mean, you obviously have the AI technology already but where would you get a power source that is powerful enough to supply for it? And how would you make an entire flesh body? I get that you have a billionaire at your disposal but science only goes so far.” Hazel was intrigued at Bruce’s ideas. They were both grinning madly, obviously happy to have found someone with a similar passion.
“Science only goes so far? I see. Well do you know who I am, firecracker?” Tony had been intently listening to the conversation waiting for a chance to jump in. Soon the three of them were conversing about all aspects of science ranging from astrophysics, which was Hazel’s personal favorite, to neurology.
Thor attempted to keep up with the conversation but was lost within seconds of their fast paced chatter. He watched from the side, overjoyed to see Hazel so comfortable around them yet still feeling a pang of jealously.
After a little less than an hour, people began to leave. Thor stayed behind to watch Hazel, her thoughts and speech moving a million miles a minute.
Hazel was still talking when a sudden pang of hunger rippled through her stomach. The unexpected pain caused her to clutch her stomach and bend over slightly. Jesus, Hazel. When was the last time you ate? She thought back and couldn’t remember.
She felt a pair of hands grab her shoulders, keeping her steady. She looked up and saw Tony’s usually cocky looking face looking surprisingly concerned.
“Hazel, what is it?” Bruce asked from by her side. Thor was quick on his feet and stood across from her in a second.
“I…I think I just need something to eat.” As if on queue her stomach growled loudly.
“Better get firecracker some breakfast then.” Tony rubbed her shoulders as his hands were still sitting on them lightly. Hazel didn’t notice Thor clenching his jaw. Tony, however, did. He smirked and let his hands fall to his sides but not until after he let them drift across her arms. “Take whatever you like.” Tony picked up his now empty mug which was sitting on the counter and walked away, snickering.
-//-
Thor’s POV
Thor felt his body tense as he watched Tony move his hands down Hazel’s arms. It was mostly a comforting gesture but Thor knew Tony was trying to get on his nerves.
“Take whatever you like.” He announced before walking to the sink with a mug in hand. He dropped it off and looked back at Bruce, Hazel and him. He winked which caused Hazel’s cheeks to tint a light shade of pink. Thor subconsciously tensed again, grinding his teeth together.
“I better get going to.” Bruce announced, much more comfortable around Hazel now. He nodded at them both before leaving Thor and Hazel alone in the kitchen.
Hazel began opening cabinets, eyes widening at the sheer amount of food. Tony was known to be excessive. Thor began choosing a breakfast for himself as well, not knowing what to say.
She opted for a box of granola. Hazel grabbed the box and began looking for a bowl. She found one but it was way out of reach.
“Damn short people problems.” She grumbled as she extended her arms and fingers. They barely brushed the edge of the bowl.
“Let me, Lady Hazel.” Thor enjoyed her pleased yet slightly sarcastic expression every time he called her lady. He assumed she secretly enjoyed it.
“Thank you Lord Thor.” Thor felt a tingling sensation as his name left her tongue. Is she the one? Thor knew that on Asgard they took love very seriously as they only fall in love once in a lifetime. He knew humans could fall in love more than once which worried him. If she happened to have feelings for him, which he doubted, they might be only temporary.
Thor reached up into the cabinet and pulled down a brown bowl. He handed it to the smiling Hazel who took it gratefully.
“Whatever would I do without you?” Thor returned her smile.
She then grabbed a spoon and some milk from the fridge. Thor pulled down his favorite Midgard breakfast item, pop tarts.
He followed Hazel who was now sitting at the kitchen table and pouring herself a bowl of cereal and milk. He sat across from her, placing his box of cinnamon pop tarts on the table. Hazel laughed.
“What? They are delicious.” Thor responded, opening the box and pulling out a pack.
“I just didn’t expect a God to like human food, much less pop tarts. I thought you’d eat like, I don’t know, God food?”
“And what might that be?” Thor opened the silver wrapping and ate one piece in two bites. Hazel gawked as he devoured the other and began with a second pack.
“You realize those have more than 200 calories each, right?” Thor finished another two pop tarts and opened a third pack. Hazel had barely started on her cereal.
“That is not a problem.” Hazel rolled her eyes.
“I can see that, but I’m guessing you don’t have pop tarts on…. Where are you from?”
“Asgard and no, we don’t have pop tarts, sadly enough.”
“Wow, fancy name. And what did you call earth earlier?”
“Midgard.”
“Nice. So what’s it like on Asgard?”
Thor began talking about his home in detail, staring at the entrance where the Bifrost was and onwards. He reminisced in his past while Hazel gratefully took in every detail. Thor didn’t miss out anything except the memories about Loki. Long after Hazel had finished her cereal and Thor his pop tarts they heard the elevator ding.
The pair of them turned around to see Natasha and Clint walking out of the elevator. Thor cut off his conversation and stood up.
Clint walked towards Hazel who had stood up as well. He raised his hand out in front of him for Hazel to shake.
“Clint Barton.” He announced. Hazel shook his hand. “I saw you getting along pretty well with Bruce and Tony. It’s rare someone can keep up with their thought process so you must be pretty special.” Hazel smiled.
“Come on Clint.” Natasha interrupted. Her tone was serious but her kind smile betrayed her urgency. “We have business to attend to.”
“What is it?” Thor asked.
“Tomorrow’s shipment, we need to discuss logistics. We are meeting the the briefing room in ten minutes.” Thor instantly knew what Natasha was talking about. Loki.
“I’ll be there.” He looked down at Hazel. She seemed confused. “What about Hazel?”
Natasha and Clint looked hesitant. They exchanged whispers for a few seconds.
“If this is some superhero stuff I’d hate to interrupt.” Hazel announced. “Although if you don’t mind I’d be more than happy to join.”
“It is about Loki.” Thor proclaimed, wanting Hazel to know about what was going on. Her eyes widened slightly but she didn’t say anything. Natasha and Clint looked at him warningly, not wanting him to give away too much. “He is being shipped to a more secure facility.”
“Oh wow, that’s pretty extreme. I guess I’ll leave you to it then.” She looked slightly disappointed.
“I’m sorry Hazel, but this is a very dangerous and we don’t want to get you involved.” Natasha looked sympathetic.
“She already is involved.” Thor stated. “He attacked her, twice.” Thor let it slip before he knew what he was saying.
“What do you mean, twice?” Natasha demeanor had changed to a slightly more protective one upon hearing the information.
“Last night, when she was walking around the tower, she accidently found Loki’s cell. He did or said something, I don’t know but it was horrible.”
“Jesus Thor, why didn’t you say earlier?” Clint asked.
“I didn’t think Hazel wanted anyone to know.” Thor responded, slightly agitated.
“I’m right here and I was perfectly okay with you telling them. You could’ve just asked.” Hazel voiced.
“After whatever he did to her, I believe she has the right to know what is happening.” Thor continued, coming to Hazel’s defense.
Natasha and Clint exchanged more whispers. After a few seconds they nodded in agreement.
“She can come, under one condition, she is not to tell anyone outside the tower. We need to keep this silent as not to add complications.” Natasha announced.
“Really! Oh, okay! Yes, I won’t tell anyone, like I have anyone to tell, but still!” Hazel was ecstatic.
“Then we better get moving if we want to make the meeting.” Natasha turned on her heel with Clint in pursuit. Although serious, they both had grins on their faces, obviously amused by Hazel’s overjoyed response.
Hazel and Thor followed them into the elevator before it began its ascent.