I forgot to put an author's note on this... I guess it didn't really need one.

No copyright infringement is intended.

TapTap

Claire was not one to just run, nevermind if it would actually have worked out or not. She might have gotten to the elevators in time, or she might not. She didn't try. To some people, maybe she seemed like the very archetype of the opposite kind of a person, but Claire always raised her chin and stood her ground, when it came down to it. It might have been why she got along so swimmingly with Tony; they rather shared this trait. If by rather you mean excessively, anyway. And sometimes you do.

So when her cousins had completely turned and could see her, Claire was facing them head on, looking far more glorious - and beautiful, at that - than she herself knew. It didn't matter. She hadn't listened to them back then, and she wasn't about to give in to their prejudices now.

"Claire!" Her youngest cousin spoke up first. He was wearing a cheap rental suit, which was probably why he felt the need to look her over and question haughtily," What's that dress? Valentino knockoff?"

Claire didn't even blink. "It's Chanel. And before you ask, my jewelry is Gucci and Prada. And my shoes are that famous red-soled brand I can never pronounce properly."

"Wow! Got yourself a sugar-daddy, cuz?" Claire didn't even bother to level her oldest cousin - who had now gotten involved in the conversation - with a lethal glare. She just kept studying all of them as if they were curiosities of some sort.

Before she had to respond, Bruce Wayne appeared out of thin air, loosely placing an arm around her shoulders in a gesture of timeless solidarity. "While I speak with complete - and even personal - surety when I say Miss Thomas could no doubt find someone very wealthy to fill the function you speak of, easily, it is not her style."

Barely a step behind him, Tony Stark took her other side, completely baffling the four boys in their rented "finery". "Decidedly. Not that she needs it - she is a millionaire in her own right you know - but literally speaking, it's not too far from the truth. I did buy her those shoes - although more in my capacity of owner of a company which she manages, than as her father. I do the same for Pepper."

Claire laughed, further shocking her utterly confused long-lost relatives. "Thanks, dad."

This was the glorious moment, when Tony delivered the lethal blow by formally introducing the CEO and owner of WI to, "My manager of Internal R&D" and Bruce joked along with the line, "How is it you always promote your ladies above you?"

"Well, someone has to keep track of this company, you know..." Tony replied casually, not missing a beat even as Steve Rogers hastily stepped up next to Claire, smoothly sidestepping Bruce Wayne and placing himself between Claire and the - to him entirely - unknown boys.

"Steve?" Claire and Tony spoke at exactly the same time, even with the same inflection.

"I'm gonna step in here," Rogers announciated calmly, "before the Hulk does." His pointed glance at Claire spoke as loudly as the tone he used, much louder than the words themselves did. The eyebrows of both billionaires beside them rose immediately.

Claire turned to look at Bruce Banner, in a flash, and spoke at normal volume, clearly sure she'd be heard. "Hulk, please listen to Bruce. Tony and Steve have got this. I know you don't like their body language, but I'm fine." Next to their Bruce, Clint and Bucky had gone grave, the three of them walking towards the elevators at some speed. Bruce said something in Claire's direction, rubbing his ears.

Rogers could hear him without issue even over the noise of the - mostly - peacefully socialising crowd. "He says the baby is screaming now. Bucky is taking him upstairs."

Tony's eyes went dark at this, fury clear on his expression. Claire cursed at this proof of yet another useless babysitter, ignoring her cousins and turning to Bruce Wayne. "It was nice to meet you, Mr Wayne. I hope to meet you soon again." She shook her head, turning to the other two men with a headshake. "Why do I suddenly see myself spending most of the night with a Hulk, a Baby and a recovering, once-weaponized supersoldier?"

"Clearly, you can see the future!" Tony joked, as Bruce Wayne kissed her hand and winked.

"I hope we will, too. I shall be interested to work together with your R&D in the future," the other billionaire winked, lingering just a little over her hand in a way he certainly hadn't with Pepper's.

"Book a meeting with me - not with Tony. Or your name-sake - he's one of the grownups!" With that, Claire left them, rather unceremoniously, Steve hesitating for just a heartbeat before joining her.

As she went, Tony turned to her cousins, smiling dangerously. "Now tell me, who are you? Not that I'm interested, of course, but I need to know who to ban - and who got you in here that I ought to fire."