"Party at the X mansion." Tony announced. He'd assembled the entire team into the mission briefing room.
"This is why you called us?" Steve frowned. "Tony, you know that the assemble protocol is only for emergencies." He and the rest of the team were all in uniform while Tony sat in one of the conference chairs in jeans and a tee shirt.
"This is an emergency." Tony insisted. "We've been invited into enemy territory. I need plans to crush them."
"It's a party, Stark." Clint rolled his eyes as he put his bow on the table and kicked up his feet. "It's bad manners to show up to someone's house and crush them. Didn't they teach you that in etiquette school?"
Steve grabbed the envelope Tony was holding and read it. "This party is mean to inspire collaboration between our two teams. It's not an opportunity for you to show off."
"Tomato, tomahto." Tony rolled his eyes. "We need to show them that we're Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Who's with me?!" He looked around eagerly as his teammates rolled their eyes.
"I'm just grateful I didn't unleash the Hulk." Bruce muttered as he sat in one of the chairs. "This shirt is new and I like it."
"I agree with the Man of Iron." Thor boomed as he took a seat next to Clint. "The men of X are not as…cool as we are."
"You know you're in trouble when Thor starts using slang correctly." Clint muttered.
"This is a disaster waiting to happen." Bruce sighed.
"Where is your spirit of adventure Banner?" Thor grinned and a rumble of thunder shook the tower windows.
Steve put his head in his hands. "It's a PARTY." He glared at where Tony and Thor were discussing lightening versus Tony's confetti machine.
"You should really reconsider any thunderbolts you plan to throw." Natasha said quietly. Thor and Tony turned to look at her.
"And why is that?" Thor frowned
"Ororo Munroe" Natasha replied. "Codename: Storm. She's a weather witch and the SHIELD database had her listed as a level 5 mutant."
"How many levels are there?" Thor asked.
"5" Clint grinned. "Which means that your little light show is going to be a joke to her. She's capable of conjuring more than just a few simple sparks. Believe me; you want to stay on her good side."
"You've met her?" Steve asked.
"Budapest." Natasha said, effectively stopping any more questions. The team understood that everyone had certain boundaries which couldn't be crossed. One of them was never to ask about Budapest.
"She can control weather?" Bruce sat up straighter. "I've never heard of someone with the X gene who was able to control such a broad range of powers."
"That freak ice storm in Sicily last week; that was her." Natasha grinned.
Thor paled.
"One flick of the wrist and Manhattan's buried under a Tsunami." Clint added.
"It must have taken years of practice and extreme discipline to control such a powerful mutation." Bruce murmured in admiration. "She must be very strong willed." Tony frowned.
"No. NO. There will be no fraternizing with the enemy. I'm banning you from talking to this woman." He turned back to Thor. "So lightning's out, any more ideas? Does Asgard have any tame dragons we could ride in on?"
There was a collective groan from the rest of the team as Thor and Tony began to plot.
"I'm not a part of this." Steve stood and the others followed.
"It's black tie." Tony shouted after them. "If you're not planning on out awesomeing them, at least out dress them."
Bruce went back to his lab, closely followed by Natasha.
"Is there something you needed?" he smiled. Natasha tilted her head.
"She'd be good for you." She said thoughtfully. Bruce knocked over a row of, thankfully empty, test tubes.
"Wha-What?" he stammered
"Don't worry about Tony." Natasha continued. "If I know Storm, she's not going to let him dictate who she can or can't talk to." She smirked. "Dress nicely Ororo's a classy lady."
Bruce looked at her; stunned.