Chapter 1
"Ow. Ow. OW! I changed my mind. STOP!"
Izzy playfully smacked her friend on the shoulder with the hairbrush. "Oh, shut up. You shouldn't have this much freaking hair if you are such a tender-headed wussy baby."
Ruby crossed her arms across her chest and put on her best pout. "I'm not tender-headed. You're just going out of your way to make this as painful as possible. Were you a CIA interrogator in a past life?"
"I would've been done five minutes ago if you would be still," she set the brush down on the counter and stepped back to inspect her handiwork. "There. You're done."
Ruby turned around to face the mirror. The woman that looked back at her could have just stepped out of a magazine. Her golden blonde hair was pulled back in a high chignon that hands down was the most sophisticated look she had ever worn. Paired with her vintage, art deco gown, the look was stunning.
"Izzy, you are a magician. Now if I can keep from tripping and falling on my face in these heels, this evening shouldn't be a total disaster."
"You say that about every event you father makes you attend. I swear, he does everything but put a collar around your neck and trot you around the room," Izzy huffed as she smoothed out a wrinkle that Ruby hadn't spotted.
"Oh, shush," Ruby's southern drawl drug out the word into two syllables. "I'm his only child. He needs me there for my support." Which wasn't the complete truth. Her father forced her to attend all these events to try to get her to take an interest in his business. Unfortunately for both of them, she had no head for business and was hopelessly inept at socializing. It made these events miserable for her and frustrating for her father. Tonight, though, was different. She was looking forward to it and could barely contain her excitement.
"Ok, I'm ready," Ruby bounced in her shoes and clapped her hands together. "I'm so excited. I can't believe I'm going to meet Dr. Banner. He's…"
"Yeah, I know. You've already told me about a hundred times. He's one of the most brilliant minds in the world. Blah, blah, blah."
"I refuse to let you dampen my excitement."
"Ok. But how about a tip? Don't ask him about the weather. Or how he likes Houston. He's probably been asked that about a dozen times already. Dazzle him with your brilliant mind, instead."
"Ok, no weather or Houston questions. Got it." Ruby hugged her friend and gave her a kiss on the cheek, leaving a light lipstick print behind.
"Have fun. And I'll see you in a little while."
Ruby practically danced out the door.
Dr. Bruce Banner stood off to the side of the room, half hidden behind a potted plant, and thought about all the places he would rather be than here. Sakaar came to mind, but he decided it wasn't quite that bad, yet. Nick Fury wandered over to stand by him.
"You do know you're hiding behind a plant," Fury observed.
"Hum, is that what this is? I thought it was another mindless wife or daughter someone had introduced me to."
Fury's only answer was a slight snort.
"What am I doing here? You have other people that would have been better suited for this than me."
"We needed someone with your brains here, and Parker's in the middle of final exams."
"Why? Everybody just wants to know what Stark was like, or Loki, or Thor. And I swear, if I get asked one more time how I like Houston, the Big Guy is going to make an appearance."
"He might be better at mingling," Fury snorted. "But we need to make a statement that the Avenger Initiative is still alive and well and that we are interested in more than just New York City. And there has been some disturbing Hydra activity in this area."
Fury paused and smiled politely at a passing server before continuing, "look at Rhodes over there. He doesn't want to be here either, but at least he's trying. So quit sulking like a fucking two-year-old and get your green ass out there a start sucking up!"
With that, Fury stepped away from Bruce and strode up to two women. Giving them a big smile, he introduced himself and shook their hands enthusiastically.
Bruce looked down at the almost empty drink in his hand, "I'm going to need a lot more of these."
Stepping out from his hiding place, he started across the room to the bar on the other side, only to be stopped before he got very far.
"Dr. Banner, I'm John Beaumont, the host of this little soiree," a tall, dark haired man in a crisp tux held out his hand. "So glad you could make it."
Bruce forced a smile, "thank you for the invitation."
Beaumont looked at someone behind Bruce and smiled, "Ah, there she is. This is my daughter, Ruby. Ruby, this is Dr. Bruce Banner."
Bruce turned to greet this Ruby Lee and had to look down. Way down. A stunningly beautiful woman stood beside him, looking up at him with eyes the color of a crystal-clear lake on a sunny day.
"Good evening, Dr. Banner," she said in a silky southern drawl and held out her hand. His hand dwarfed it as they shook. It was cool to the touch and he could feel all the delicate bones in it.
Beaumont droned on and it was a good thing because he couldn't seem to form a coherent thought while looking into those eyes. She had to tug on her hand to get him to release it. Forcing himself to look away from her eyes, he looked down and instantly regretted it. Her breasts, barely contained by the bodice of her gown, made his mouth dry up instantly and he jerked his attention back to her lovely face, this time fixating on her plump, cupid bow lips that were tinted a glossy peach to match the color now rising in her cheeks.
"If you will excuse me, I see Senator Cononley." Beaumont clasped Bruce on the shoulder, "enjoy your evening, Doctor."
He barely acknowledged Beaumont's departure.
The silence stretched out uncomfortably long between the two until, Ruby cleared her throat and blurted out, "so how are you liking Houston?"
Instead of answering, Bruce swallowed the last of his drink, "I, uh, I'm just going to go get another one of these," and hurried away, leaving her alone with a stunned look on her face.
Ruby stomped into the room, quite an accomplishment in her heels, and slammed the door behind her.
"Oh, the nerve of that, that disgusting, chauvinistic, knuckle-dragging, over-rated buffoon!"
Izzy looked up from her phone where she sprawled across one of the beds in the hotel room.
"Wow, that's harsh. Did some trust-fund brat hit on you?"
Ruby flopped down on the bed beside her, mindless of both her gown and hair.
"No, even worse," she covered her face with both hands and wailed her frustration.
"An oil tycoon corner you for a little slap and tickle?"
"No," she sighed. "The brilliant Dr. Banner couldn't keep his eyes off my boobs, then dismissed me like I was inconsequential."
"Wow," Izzy rolled off the bed, opened the mini-refrigerator, and pulled out a picture of pale green liquid. "Did you talk about anything at all?"
"No. I'm an idiot. My mind froze and I blurted out the first thing that came to mind."
"The weather or Houston?"
"Houston." Ruby looked at her and sighed dramatically.
"I don't understand how someone so brilliant could be so socially awkward."
"Right? You would think he would be more…, I don't know, just more."
Izzy laughed as she poured some of the contents of the picture into a plastic hotel cup and handed it to Ruby, who sat up long enough to take a drink.
"I was talking about you, dork!"
"You are a god among us mortals," Ruby closed her eyes in satisfaction, the drank the rest of the margarita in a few long swallows and handed the cup back. "More, please. Lots more."
"Of course, I am. Anyway, look on the bright side: you won't have to see him ever again."
"Thank goodness for that at least."
