Hi guys!
Thor; In this chapter, you shall imagine the maidens dress up like fairytale princesses.
Clint; Dude, you're over-reacting. I know you're excited to see Jane dressed up.
Tony; You're just jealous you haven't got a date :P
Clint; Shut up, Tony. Guys, thanks for your follows, favorites and reviews :)
Bruce: *struggling with his bowtie* How to wear this thing? *turns to audience* no,no N doesn't own us, only her imagination.
Chapter 11-Homecoming
Tony was speechless. He was blinking his eyes numerous times, making sure the girl before him really was Pepper.
The other boys –Bruce, Thor, Steve, Rhodey and Alexei also was gaping at the sight of their dates. Except for Clint, who was sitting on the couch in the Romanoff's' living room. He was dateless, but he was in his tux, apparently going for his friends' sake. His eyes followed Natasha as she walked toward Alexei in her electric blue tube mini-dress that hugged her body perfectly. Mrs. Romanoff stood at one corner with her husband, a camera in her hand.
"Guys, if you all can stop gaping right now, it's photo session," Natasha spoke up, rolling her eyes at her friends. "Come on Shos- Alexei." She tugged Alexei's hand, heading to the wall that was prepared for the photo-session.
Alexei smiled and held Natasha's hand as Mrs. Romanoff took their photo.
Tony was still staring at Pepper, who was already blushing under his gaze.
Pepper was in a sparkly blue long dress, v-necked and sleeveless. Her strawberry blond hair, for the first time wasn't tied. It was curled, loose on her shoulders. And for the first time, she donned herself with jewelries. A silver necklace with sapphire teardrops hung around her neck and the bracelet he'd give her last year was on her wrist. She was never the one for make-up, Tony knew that but tonight, she'd put on more than the foundation. She must've put on high heels, because she stood taller than she usually was.
"I see you made a good use of the debit card I gave yesterday," Tony finally said. "You look gorgeous. Or would you prefer stunning? Wait, wait, you are both gorgeous and stunning."
Pepper blushed. "Thank you," she said sheepishly.
"I have matching cufflinks," Tony said, showing the sapphire cufflinks on his sleeve. "Found it in my drawer after you texted the color of your dress." He reached for his pocket, pulling out a small velvet box, "I've got something for you, too."
He handed her the small box, which earned him a frown from Pepper. Even after all these years, Pepper never got used to Tony's generosity. The debit card she'd used to buy the dress and a few other things was also forcefully lent by Tony. Pepper opened the small velvet box, smiling at the sight of a pair of stud earrings that suspiciously similar to his arc-reactor.
"Arc-reactor?" she smirked, inspecting the earring. The round blue diamond catches the light. "Creative."
"Custom made. I designed it," Tony grinned cheekily.
Pepper kissed his cheek. "Thanks."
"Tony, Pepper if you guys can stop whispering and being bad-example of teenage romantic comedy, it's your turn for the photo," Darcy said, walking away from the camera focus, Rhodey next to her.
The other giggled as Tony eagerly grabbed Pepper's hand to set background. Tony unashamedly wrapped his arms around Pepper's waist as she smiled and blushed for the photograph. Mrs. Romanoff dismissed them after a couple of photograph and lined up the girls for another shot. Natasha, the shortest, stood at the front flanked by Jane and Darcy. Pepper, Peggy and Elizabeth stood behind them.
"Boys," Mrs. Romanoff demanded. She was enjoying her position as the photographer. It wasn't everyday her daughter dressed up.
The guys lined up, while Tony made a peace sign. "Cute and cuddly, boys. Cute and cuddly," Tony said, earning laughs from the girls as Mrs. Romanoff clicked her camera.
"Clint! I haven't taken your photo yet," Mrs. Romanoff complained, with fondness in her voice.
Clint look embarrassed. "I haven't got a date, Mrs. Romanoff, it's okay."
"No, no it's not okay," Mrs. Romanoff pulled his arm and dragged him back to the wall. The other guys snickered. "Alexei, I'm borrowing Natasha for a while," she said to Alexei before gestured to Natasha to stand next to Clint.
Clint smiled nervously at the camera.
"He's your best friend, Natasha," Mrs. Romanoff rolled her eyes, seeing the gap between Natasha and Clint. "Move closer."
They moved closer, and Mrs. Romanoff smiled. Clint bravely held Natasha's hand and forced a smile for the camera. His heart was beating so quickly, he wondered if Natasha's heard it. Probably she could, Clint groaned mentally, she got the super spy senses.
"Have fun all of you," Mrs. Romanoff waved them. "Natasha, text me if there's anything."
"Okay, mom," she kissed Mrs. Romanoff's cheek. "Bye."
They made their way downstairs. Tony quickly dragged Pepper to his Tesla Roadster, whilst Thor and Jane made way to Thor's Frontier. Bruce and Elizabeth were riding with Steve and Peggy in Steve's truck. Rhodey and Darcy with Thor and Jane. Natasha went with Alexei. Which left Clint alone in his Impala.
Being Rhodey and Darcy's driver is even better than driving alone, Clint thought grudgingly.
"You guys see the final five for the Homecoming Queen?" Tony asked his friends over his punch at the dance.
Rhodey shrugged. "I think I saw the name at the door," he gestured at the gym's door. "But I couldn't remember."
"Pepper, Natasha, a junior, Belova –I don't know her first name. The other two," Bruce crinkled his brow, trying to remember. "Anna Marie and Everheart –I think."
Tony pumped his fist. "Oh yes. Pepper made the top five."
"You nominate her?" Bruce asked.
"Guys, you see the nominees for the Homecoming king yet?" Darcy suddenly appeared. Jane stood behind her, smiling conspiratorially.
Tony crossed his arms. "Let me guess, Steve and Thor?"
"Yep. Also nominated, Tony, Alexei and, drum roll please, Loki Odinson," Darcy breathed. "Did you guys see him? In the tuxedo with the green tie? Oh God, I'll be shocked if he didn't win."
The guys raised their eyebrows.
Darcy rolled her eyes. "Oh, it's no use talking to you guys. Dance, Hot Rod?" She looked at Rhodey.
Rhodey sputtered at his punch. "I really hope you and Tony stop calling me that," he muttered.
"Why not? It has the ring to your name," Darcy took his hand, leading him to the dance floor. "Hot Rod Rhodey."
Tony put down his punch. "I've got to find Pepper. I've a girl to flaunt."
"Bruce, Elizabeth is looking for you. She just got back from the bathroom," Jane told Bruce as Tony walked away. "She's at the door."
"Oh, thanks Jane. Excuse me," Bruce quickly went toward the great hall's door, avoiding the crowd.
Elizabeth stood next to the door, eyes frantically searching for Bruce. She was wearing a light purple cotton dress that went below her knees. Bruce tugged at his bowtie –given by Elizabeth earlier at Natasha's house, to match with her dress, feeling slightly nervous.
"I like this song," Bruce spoke up suddenly. The DJ was playing We Are Young, Bruce never actually liked the song, but Tony had made him listen to the song enough times for him to tolerate it.
Elizabeth slightly jumped at the sound of his voice, shocked to find him suddenly standing before her. "Oh, it's a good one."
"Dance?" Bruce asked, eyes flitting to the crowd of student dancing on the dance floor.
"Not to this song."
Bruce smiled. "Tell me when you want to dance."
Elizabeth giggled. "You're socially awkward, you know that?"
"Yeah, I'm aware."
Steve hadn't recognized Peggy when he saw her at Natasha's house. She was dressed in a pastel colored vintage-dress, complimented with a rich red lipstick. Overall, she was gorgeous. He'd only met her couple of times before tonight –first at Tony's party and then at the hospital when Tony awakened but he thanked his lucky star she agreed to go with him to the dance. To be honest, Steve was never good around girls –he's awkward around them. And put a well-dressed Peggy Carter in front of him, the awkwardness increased tenfold.
"Not a fan of social event, huh?" Peggy asked.
"Uh, no. Not really. I usually avoid them," Steve cleared his throat.
"Why?"
"I usually went with the guys and they often left me in the corner."
Peggy stifled a chuckle. "Not quite a conversationalist either."
"No, not really. That would be Tony."
"You have no idea how to talk to a girl, do you?"
Steve chuckled. "I think this is the longest I've had with one. Girls aren't exactly lining up to chat up with a guy who stutters."
"Let's keep this to a short one, then," she smiled. "You know how to play Word Association?"
Steve nodded.
"If I say, Harry Potter?"
Steve chuckled. "J. K Rowling."
"Music?"
"Bob Dylan."
"Book?"
"Sketch."
"Sports?"
"Baseball."
"Pizza?"
"Awesome."
"Chess?"
"Bruce."
"Annoying?"
"Stark."
"Friends?"
"Family."
"Girls?"
"Awkward."
"Pretty?"
"You."
Loki wandered around the great hall. If it wasn't to avoid his parents –excuse me, adoptive parents, he won't even be setting his foot to the event.
Looking sharp in his double-breasted black suit with his black hair slicked back, girls had turned heads to his way when he arrived. The dark green tie he wore just enunciated his bright emerald green eyes. Sadly, even though he was nominated for the Homecoming King, there was no girl that quite catches his eyes. The girls looked all the same –unreasonably for one-time use dresses, too thick make-up, stuck-up attitude.
Sometimes Loki wished he was Thor; friendly and warm around people.
But no, Loki was cold and silent.
And he was pretty sure he preferred it that way.
"They look happy, don't they?" Jane asked Thor, tilting her chin toward the centre of the dance floor, where Tony and Pepper were dancing. When he said he was going to flaunt her, he really did. Tony had twirled Pepper around the floor, and took her to the very center of the dance floor, claiming the spotlight.
Thor smiled as he pulled Jane close, his hand on her waist. "They are happy. I can't recall any time Pepper smiles that long after Tony's accident."
"If only they are together," Jane sighed.
"Jane, sooner or later, they will realize the affection they have is more than just friends," Thor said, winking.
A couple of feet away, Tony were enjoying Pepper's company. A band showed up, and was playing a rock version of Can't Take My Eyes Off You. His hand on her hip, and she was clasping his other hand while dancing slowly to the music. Pepper was smiling since she left the Romanoff's residence that her cheeks hurt.
"I love this song," Pepper murmured quietly. "Reminds me of the scene in 10 things I hate about you."
Tony grinned. "When Heath Ledger sang the song to Julie Stiles?"
"Sure. It was sweet. Romantic."
"You know, I'll be shocked if you didn't win the Homecoming Queen title," Tony suddenly said. "You look gorgeously stunning tonight."
"I'm nominated for the title?" Pepper squeaked. "Who in his right mind put my name?"
Tony looked hurt. "Me."
"Oh, you don't have to do that."
"What? I just put your name. It's the rest of the school that voted you for the final five."
"But –"
Tony shushed her. "Well, I'm sure everyone expected Tony Stark's date to be blindingly beautiful. You might be the mediocre Pepper Potts, but everybody knows you can dress up if you want to."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Pepper muttered.
"Anytime," Tony smiled crookedly.
They swayed and he twirled her around. Tony was lost in Pepper's shining blue eyes. When was the last time he'd ever feel this way to a girl? The answer was eleven years ago, when he'd first met Pepper at the kindergarten. The feelings never wavered, never decreased but keep growing throughout the time. Tony sucks when it comes to feelings; he was always saying the wrong things at the right time, and ended up sounding like a douche bag.
Pepper is his best friend and he didn't like her, he loves her. The shy, mediocre and brilliant Pepper. He didn't need her to dress up to notice her beauty. He was lost without her. Pepper anchored him to his life; the memories of his mom and his misadventures as a boy. She keep him on his toes, reminding him of who he is behind the asshole persona he'd put on all these years.
She had taken care of him and put up with him when nobody could –not even his father. Pepper was the only thing that felt real when everything screws up. She was the only one he wanted and the one he can't have. That only made him want her more, not in the way he was challenging himself to swing a fling with the rival school hottest chick but in a way that he wanted Pepper to want him.
Tonight, he didn't want to remember his frustration. He only wanted to remember how gorgeous she looked in the sparkly blue dress. He wanted to appreciate the look of her often tied up strawberry blond hair loose on her shoulders. The color was still surreal to him, and he still had the urge to touch them like he had when he was six. He wanted to remember her shy smile, and the blush on her cheeks. He wanted to remember the lights in her blue eyes, the eyes that had same loving look as his mom.
"You're staring," Pepper said, embarrassed.
Tony blinked. "Oh, have I? Sorry."
He smiled crookedly. They continued to dance around, ignoring the knowing smiles from Thor and Jane. Tony leaned his forehead to meet Pepper's and he could feel her warm, nervous breath.
"Have I told you tonight?" He whispered quietly, earning a nervous hitch from Pepper.
"That I look gorgeously stunning? Gorgeous, or stunning?" Pepper chuckled nervously.
"No," Tony denied. "That you look absolutely beautiful."
Tony leaned closer, thinking, This is it, this is how I'm going to tell her. Their lips were only less than two inches apart. I'm sober and she knows that I'm not just fooling around.
"Oh my God, are they gonna kiss?" Darcy looked at Tony and Pepper who were just a couple of feet away from them.
Rhodey's arms were around her waist and they had stopped spinning around. Like her, Rhodey was also staring at Tony and Pepper. Darcy was aware that her friends, minus Clint were also staring. It was hard to ignore, not when Tony and Pepper were on the very center of the spotlight, and Pepper was wearing sparkly blue dress. And heck, it was Tony Stark –who can stop watching him?
"Looks like it," Rhodey said, almost stoic.
Oh my God, they are gonna kiss, Darcy thought. She knows her friends also thinking of the same thing. They had waited for Tony and Pepper to get together since forever, and this was it. Oh my God, oh my God, Darcy thought frantically, this is even better than those chick-flicks. This is real.
Darcy was gripping on Rhodey's shoulders and she noticed that Thor and Jane also stopped dancing. Natasha was frozen in Alexei's arms, her eyes glued on Pepper. Bruce shared smirk with Steve whilst slowly swaying with their dates. Tony leaned closer and…
"Students, can we have your attention?" Miss Hill, Principal Fury's assistant had taken over the stage. "It's time to announce the Homecoming King and Queen."
Darcy groaned inwardly. They were just having a moment that beat a chick-flick and Miss Hill chose to make an announcement. She looked at her friends, who looked equally disappointed. Tony had pulled his face away from Pepper, looking like he was just out of a trance. Pepper was blinking, a look of disbelief on her face.
"Well, that was disappointing," Rhodey muttered, voicing her thought.
They turned their attention to Miss Hill, who was impatiently tapping on the microphone. "We will start with the Homecoming Prince and Princess." It was kind of the runner-ups, and the titles were equally coveted. It was nothing, really, but it gave SHIELD Prep to spend money on the gifts. "The Homecoming Prince and Princess goes to, " the students held their breath, "Tony Stark and Pepper Potts."
Applause. Applause. Darcy can't help but grin.
"Guess there's silver lining," Jane said, dragging Thor behind her toward Rhodey and Darcy.
They laughed as Tony tried to take the tiara from Miss Hill's hands, insisting to put the tiara on Pepper's head by himself. Miss Hill gave up and let Tony had his way. Tony carefully placed the tiara on Pepper's head and gave a peck on the cheek. He held her hand and backed off to let Miss Hill announce the King and Queen.
"And the Homecoming King and Queen is Alexei Shostakov and Natasha Romanoff!"
The students applauded as Alexei led Natasha to the stage. Like Tony, he also insisted to put the crown on Natasha's head. After Alexei done his short speech, the student parted, making a space for the four winners. Tony happily resumed his dance with Pepper, smiling so wide Darcy was surprised his cheeks didn't rip.
In the corner, Clint looked at Alexei and Natasha grudgingly. He was the one who supposed to dance with her. No, no, I should be happy for her, Clint thought, dispelling his frustration. But as hard as he was trying, he couldn't help but looking at Alexei and think about fifty different ways he could kill Alexei and leave no evidence.
Natasha was short that her head barely reached Alexei's shoulder. But it was perfect for her to hide her face while her eyes frantically searching for Clint. Alexei might think she was shy to meet his eyes, but she was actually looking for her best-friend.
Winning the title as Homecoming Queen was unbelievable. She was forcing a smile by the time the yearbook's photographer, Peter Parker unashamedly taking her and Alexei photos. She was relieved when the photographer kid turned his attention to Tony and Pepper. Unlike Pepper, who was looking content and happy with Tony's arms around her, Natasha felt uncomfortable.
Not that Alexei was a bad guy. He was nice and treated her like a gentleman.
But if there was something much worse than winning Homecoming Queen's title without your desirable companion, it was having your best-friend/crush cold and distant, far from your sight.
Right now, she didn't really care if she hadn't won the title if she went to the dance with Clint.
Everything was better with Clint in front of her eyes.
Tony; Yeah, I am the Homecoming Prince!
Natasha; But my date won the Homecoming King :P
Tony; Who wants to be the king? Bo-ring. As the Homecoming Prince, I shall request you to review. Please make it to 50+. Please, please ? With sugar on top :)
Pepper; And don't forget to leave your suggestion!
Tony; I'm on fire! Oh hey, I need to check up on Steve. Maybe he succeed getting it on with Peggy...
Pepper; And while Tony is checking up on Steve, you guys could check out N's other story -Why you shouldn't date an Avenger :)
-Have a nice day!
