"Right, so what do we do now?" Clint asked.
"Well, there is no more footage after that, so until our next project. Steve, can I talk to you a moment please?" I asked on a whim. I needed to get this over and done with.
"Yeah sure." Steve replied and he followed me through into one of the conference rooms.
"Look, I don't mean to be rude, but with what happened this morning, I've been a bit...different recently."
He nodded. "Yeah, me too. I don't really know what's wrong? Not th-hat it's a wrong kind of feeling, but just that...I..I know I need to do something about it kind of..feeling." he blurted out, trying to back track over his words.
"Steve it's fine. I just didn't want there to be any awkwardness between us. Okay?" Bullshit. Idiot.
"Of course." he said with a small smile.
"So...hug as an offer of friendship?" I asked. What a shit line.
"Sure." he replied and came over, wrapping his arms around my small waist. Why was I so small? He felt so comfortable, but we were meant to be just friends. Stop this. I didn't move. NOW!
I pulled away from him and went towards the door, trying not to look into his captivating eyes once again. We went back into the living room and the guys looked a bit guilty. What were they talking about?
"Hey guys. Just a heads up. There is a pairs party going on tonight. You guys coming?" Stark asked us. What is he up to?
"Yeah, sure. Theme?" I asked. I didn't bother complaining. I feel like I need a party. Maybe not the alcohol. Then again, after what happened last time...
"Just dress smart and bring a date. Seeing as you are the only two left out of all of us, you have to go together." Oh great. Another way to bring out the awkwardness. We looked at each other, slightly nervously.
"Um why?" I asked
"Because I said so."
I crossed her arms and said "You're going to have to give me a better reason than that!"
"You get to spend more time with your Captain." Your Captain? Steve's face went red even more, if that was possible. I'm not whether my face went red or not, but it was sure getting hot in here.
"Tony..." I warned him.
Stark sighed "Because all the Avengers have to pair up with someone and you are the only two left apart from Bruce who isn't even going to be here. Spoilsport." Hm. That's an alright reason I guess.
I looked at Steve and he said "Well, I mean...if you aren't going with anyone else then..."
"I'd love to go with you Steve." I replied, a bit too quickly. We looked at each other for a couple of seconds and then looked away. Stop it I scolded myself.
"So..." Stark began, breaking the awkward silence between us. "for drinks. Vodka?"
"I think Nat's okay with that." Clint said, kissing her again.
"Okay...can you two please stop kissing. It's getting creepy now."
They smiled and replied "No." simultaneously, smiled and then started kissing each other again. We carried on talking about what kind of food we wanted and what drink there would be. Everyone said that there would be a limit on the amount that I would drink. That did seem like a good plan, no matter how much I wanted to object to it.
Me and Pepper started a conversation with me about Stark Industries work, how we manage to look after all of them and also a new spa down the road. Throughout the conversation, that managed to last a couple of hours, I noticed Steve continuing to look at me from the other side of the room. He was reading a book. Well he was pretending to read a book. I think he was just trying to check me out. That sounds stupid. Wait...was he trying to check me out? Okay, this is getting weird. I know I said I just want to be friends with him, but of course I want something more. Maybe he does too?
"Okay people! The party starts in four hours, so I am going to get ready!" Stark said.
"Really, now? You have loads of time!" I argued.
"You do not know how long it takes Stark to get ready! If he starts now, he will probably be at least half and hour late!" Pepper said.
"Whatever guys!" Stark said walking into the elevator to go to his room.
"So, what are you going to wear tonight Natasha?" Pepper asked and Clint stood up quickly.
"No, no, no. I am not listening to you guys have a conversation about clothes." Then he leaving me with Pepper and Nat to talk about dresses. And Cap reading a book on one of the chairs.
"I'm thinking a purple dress with black shoes. I know purple's not my favourite, but it is Clint's so I thought I would do it." Natasha explained, making Pepper gasp in excitement.
"That is such a good idea." she squealed. "Maria, you have to do that too?"
"Wait...what? I'm confused." I said. What is she going on about?
"Dress in red, white and blue, because those are Cap's colours." I looked at Cap. Increased hearing wasn't on the list of enhanced things about him. I opened my mouth to say something, but struggled to form the right words.
"Come on, Maria. We are all doing it anyway. You'll be left out if you don't" Damn Natasha and her persuasion skills.
I huffed and said "All right, but I don't have anything like that."
Pepper smiled. "Shopping trip!"
"Uh, it makes us sound like 15 year old girls." I complained.
Pepper rolled her eyes at my comment, pulled me up and said "Come on!"
I looked back at Cap quickly with a scared facial expression and he smiled at me. Damn his hotness. We all got into the lift and...wait where's Natasha?
"Tasha, you coming?" Pepper asked.
"I'll meet you on the ground floor. I need to go and speak to Clint." she said. What was that about? I saw her gaze flick momentarily to Steve, but I knew that that little flicker could mean anything.
Pepper just nodded and asked JARVIS to take us to the bottom floor. "I wonder what that was about with Natasha?" she asked me.
"Trouble in paradise?"
"They've only been together for five minutes."
"Five hours, but there's not really a score anymore. They've always know they would end up together. And I saw her look at Steve for a moment. What was that about?"
"Yeah, I saw that too. I don't know, but she probably just needs to speak to her Hawk."
The lift opened and I met someone at the reception desk. "Cars for Hill, Potts and Romanoff please." I asked the lady at reception, who quickly dialled some numbers into the phone and asked for the cars to be brought around.
"I can see you're happy with Tony though." I said.
"Yeah," she sighed looking into the distance. "He's a pain in the ass sometimes, but...he's...he's mine."
"That's adorable." I replied. They are so cute together. "But I totally understand you about the pain in the ass bit."
"Believe me, everyone does. He never wants to do his own work and it's his company. Stark Industries. Surely Stark should be there! Also, he never signs any of the paperwork. So I have to chase him for it all the time. So annoying. I just need a break from him sometimes."
"Well," I said smiling. "that is what today is about. Taking a break from him. You need to get away."
"Ha, like you get away from S.H.I.E.L.D. You never take a holiday. Don't be going on about me when you never take a break either."
I sighed and shook my head. "S.H.I.E.L.D is very demanding. No breaks. No vacations. At least not for me."
"Well," she repeated. "that is what today is about." We both laughed until the woman at the desk told us the cars were ready for us. The lift opened and Romanoff was there.
"Okay, so there will be some people coming up to ask you questions randomly in the street, but only answer the ones that you want and DO NOT tell them anything confidential. Got it?" I asked.
"Got it." they replied and walked out to a crowd of cameras. "Oh my God." Pepper exclaimed seeing the amount of people that we outside with cameras.
Stark's body guards were quite helpful in pushing all of the reporters back, but three different people pushed through them and talked to me, Pepper and Natasha separately. The body guards looked at them cautiously, but we signalled to them that it was alright.
I noticed the reporter that came over to me. Verity England. She was a reporter for the local news.
"So, what's your opinion on the Avengers Initiative?" she asked with a fake smile.
"Well, at first I was against the idea of superheroes helping to save the planet. But after seeing what they can do. I feel like they've made a difference especially after the events over the past few days. They've proved that they can help defend the city."
"But aren't you worried that they'll be too out of control? Feel like they can do whatever they want?"
"I don't believe that. Once the world truly gets to know what they're like, they will find out who they are and what they believe in. If you knew them then you would know that they wouldn't abuse their power like that." I smiled, thinking about how Steve was so kind hearted. He was the nicest person in the world...
"You sound like you're on a pretty personal level with them. Is there anyone in particular that you are especially close with?" she asked, with a raised eyebrows and a suggestive smile.
"No. There's no one on the Avengers team that I am close with in that kind of way. I'm closer with the girls as best friends than I am with any of the boys. Sometimes they can get a bit...troublesome, but I'm able to handle them." I argued. I would tell her about Cap, but I'm sorry if I don't want gossip being spread around the world.
Before she could ask another question, I was pulled away by Natasha, we got into the car and went to the shops.
Blue, white and red. Not exactly the most common combination unless there is a dress that has only the American flag on it. I was looking through so many dresses, but unable to find any that I think would suit me. Natasha was asking the lady at the counter about trying on a dress and five minutes later, I was still searching. Man, how long is this going to take?
I heard voices from around the corner and went to investigate. "Oh my God." I said, as I saw Natasha in a beautiful purple dress.
"Would you stop saying that already?" Natasha said.
"Sorry, you just look incredible! Clint is going to pass out when he sees you."
"Hopefully not. I want to dance with him first."
Me and Pepper both chuckled and Natasha said "Right. Back to business. Pepper we still need to find you a red and gold dress and Maria we need to find you a Captain America styled one. I'll pay for this and then help you with the search."
Uh. Great. I went back to briefly checking over all the dresses on the other side of the room. I found one that was a blue strapless, with a white and red line going across the bodice. Okay, lets see if this works. I went to the changing rooms and got changed into it. I looked at myself in the mirror. The dress came down and tightly hug my hips and thighs, stopping just above the knee. It was short, but not as short as the last time I was drunk. When I was with Steve. Hopefully he'll like it.
I went out and stood on the bride-to-be stand, admiring it. "Guy, I need your opinion on this." I shouted to the others.
They came around the corner and stopped walking as soon as they saw me. "Okay." Pepper started. "It's not only Clint who is going to die and go to heaven." I felt a blush rise on my cheeks and I smiled slightly.
I turned back around and got changed into my normal clothes. As I came out, I smiled at Pepper who held a dress in her hands. She was going towards the changing room to try on a red and gold dress. I saw Natasha who was waiting for me and Pepper.
"You know, Captain really does have a thing for you."
"Don't be ridiculous Natasha." I said looking away slightly trying to hide my blush.
"Also, looking away from me whilst your blushing doesn't really help your case." Damn her.
"What am I going to do?" I sounded desperate, but I didn't care. She held my shoulders and made me face her square on.
"Look, everything is going to work out, okay? Tonight will change everything. Trust me." she said with a knowing smirk and before I could reply, Pepper stepped out of the changing room and showed us.
"Stunning." Natasha commented.
"The boys won't know what hit them!" Pepper said smiling returning to the changing room. We do all have really nice dresses and I don't care that I sound arrogant about that. Pepper paid for the dress and went back to the Avengers Tower. Everyone was thanking us on the way back home. Natasha more than anyone really, but she deserves it. She did do most of the fighting after all.
We went up to the door and me and Pepper scanned our hands. Natasha seemed a bit distracted. "Please scan your hand." JARVIS repeated for the third time and Natasha snapped out of her thoughts and complied. What was up with her?
Once we got up to the living room, we found the boys in the kitchen who went silent as soon as we came in. They were all looking at Romanoff. Totally talking about her. Me, Pepper, Tony and Steve left Natasha and Clint in the kitchen to do whatever they want.
"I need to get you to do the paperwork mister!" Pepper said, pointing at Tony, who looked like he was going to shit himself.
"I just suddenly remembered that there's somewhere that I need to be." Stark said, attempting to get away round the side, but Pepper intercepted him.
"No, we are doing this now. This needed to be signed two months ago Tony. We are doing this now." Pepper commanded and took Tony's hand. He groaned and complained "I saved the world and all your worried about is paperwork."
"Paperwork is all I think about." Pepper said, smiling and going into the lift with Tony.
I looked round at Steve who was still smiling at the relationship that Tony and Pepper have. I could tell that's what he was smiling at, because I could see the pain in his eyes of his past.
"Music?" I questioned.
He nodded and smiled. "Music." he agreed. We went to sit down on the sofa together and we browsed through the music files on one of the laptops.