As everyone started to depart, Amelia stayed slouched in her seat. "Are you alright?" Her father inquired, peering down at his daughter. Amelia glanced up at him and blinked.
"Do I have to go? I hate dancing."
Clint chuckled and nodded. "It's part of the job." Amelia sighed and dramatically heaved herself out of the chair. Suddenly, she yelped as her father hoisted her up and carried her toward their rooms.
"Mom!" She called, struggling to free herself while giggling. "Help, please! Dad won't put me down!" Natasha peered out of her room and laughed when she saw Amelia squirming to escape Clint's grasp. "Please put me down!" Clint laughed and set his daughter down, who spun to face her mother and leaned on her father. "Thanks for the help."
Natasha laughed and replied, "Anytime. Do you need to wear for the mission?"
Amelia pulled away from her father and stretched her arms behind her back. "Uh, can't I wear my blouse and jeans?"
"No, sorry," her mother replied.
Amelia pouted. "Well, that's not fun. Then yes, I do need something to wear." She headed into the room behind her father, him heading to the bathroom. Amelia followed her mother to the closet and gazed at the few dresses, suddenly a little nervous about the night. Thankfully, there was a dark blue dress that reached down to her ankles and wasn't revealing, the sleeves almost like that of a t-shirt's. "Can I wear this one?" She inquired, gently picking the side of the fabric between her fingers.
"Of course," her mother replied, smiling as she took down the dress and gave it to Amelia. Thanking her mother, Amelia then left the room and headed into her own, closing the door. Once Amelia changed into it, she gazed at herself from the mirror. Her reddish-brown hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, and the 'tail' part was curly. The dress fit nicely on her body and seemed to make her eyes glow. And again… Amelia hated looking beautiful.
"Я не понимаю, почему я должен носить платье для миссии," she mumbled under her breath, turning and heading toward the door in her wedges. Opening it, she saw her mother and father waiting patiently. "Hello," she called, stepping out awkwardly.
Natasha smiled warmly and murmured, "You look beautiful." Clint nodded, and Amelia blushed slightly.
"Thanks," she mumbled, walking over to them. "Is it time to leave?"
"It is." Her father replied and guided his wife and daughter out to the plane, Amelia struggling not to have a complete panic attack.
When they boarded the plane, Amelia realized only Tony and Steve were on as passengers. "Wait, where's Bruce and Thor?"
"It's not a good idea to bring them along," Clint explained to her as the plane started to take off. Paling, Amelia clutched the arms of the seat, knuckles turning white. Her father gently placed his hand on her shoulder to comfort her, but it did little to help the fearful Amelia.
Once they landed, Amelia was once more the first to exit, seeing a limo parked and waiting for them, a tall woman with strawberry blonde hair leaning against it and waiting, smiling when she saw them. "There you are," she greeted, standing up as Tony headed over to her. Amelia glanced down, nervous once more. Amelia felt Natasha place a hand on her back and she glanced up, following her mother to the woman. "I'm glad your back, Natasha," she greeted and smiled at Amelia.
"Glad to be back," her mother replied. "This is my daughter, Amelia." Nervously, Amelia stuck out her hand.
"Uh, hello," she replied, glancing up.
"Hello, Amelia, I'm Pepper." Pepper shook her hand and let Amelia and Natasha climb into the limo, sliding in next to them as Tony took the driver's seat.
Once they got to the ball, night had fallen and people were streaming inside. Nervously, Amelia stuck close with her parents and followed them in. As the Avengers broke off, Steve walking away on his on as Tony and Pepper wandered away to dance and her parents moving to a different direction, Amelia gazed around, suddenly too shy to approach some stranger, but forced herself to move as she attracted stares. "Amelia? Is that really you?"
She turned around, surprised to see Chris standing there staring at her in shock. "It is you!" He gasped and walked over. "I can't believe it; I thought you left New York!"
Amelia laughed nervously and twirled a finger in her ponytail. "Well, I'm here," she replied. "My new family came here to meet up with others. What are you doing here?"
"Anne sent us older kids to go," he sighed. "And don't worry, Bradley isn't here, he's sick." Amelia relaxed but stiffened in surprise when he suddenly asked, "Would you, uh, like to dance with me?"
Knowing she had to blend in, she nodded. "Oh, sure thing, Chris," she stammered awkwardly, her face heating up. Chris then carefully placed his right hand on her lower back and twined his fingers with hers. Amelia, face getting even redder, took his left hand and placed hers on his shoulder, seeing his face also red, and Amelia prayed that no one she came there with, especially her parents, saw them together like that.
Slowly, Chris started to dance her around, both stayed silent as they moved in sync, Amelia closing her blue eyes as she enjoyed the song that was playing. "You're a good dancer," he finally said, breaking the silence.
"Thanks," she replied, opening her eyes. "You're not so bad either." She cracked a smile and Chris smiled back in return. Once more, they returned to their silent dance. Unknowingly, Amelia started to sing along softly. "I have died every day waiting for you. Darling don't be afraid I have loved you for a thousand years," it's only when she stopped when she felt Chris staring at her. Amelia's face, which had lost the blush from earlier, reddened once more.
"You have a nice voice as well," he added, glancing away in embarrassment, his cheeks reddening too.
"Thank you," Amelia whispered, still dancing with him. Suddenly, the both froze when they heard screaming and people started to run by them, knocking Amelia and Chris toward a table. Her blue eyes stretched wide in alarm when she saw the mutants searching around, and she prayed that Fury's plan would work. Turning to Chris, she took his arm and ordered, "I need you to leave!"
Chris turned and stared at her before taking her hand. "Come with me," he insisted, "I won't leave you alone with those things." Thankfully, Amelia spotted her parents leaving; Steve, Tony, and Pepper close behind, leading the mutants out of the building and to the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.
"Very well," she spoke and he held onto her hand, the two heading toward the doors. Suddenly, the building shook and Amelia froze. "Бомба," she cried out and grabbed Chris, diving under the table just as the roof exploded, destroying the building and sending rain of debris falling down.
Once everything settled, the mutants killed from the blast, the agents, Natasha, Clint, Pepper, Tony, Steve, Thor, and Bruce searched the place for Amelia, her parents panicked.
But she was nowhere to be found, and neither was Chris.
Я не понимаю, почему я должен носить платье для миссии. = I do not understand why I have to wear a dress for the mission.
Бомба. = Bomb.