Chapter Seven
Steve was going to let Nat drop him off, and he fought with the tie in the mirror as she drove. She always had a nice car, this time a yellow viper, and he barely fit. She looked at him, "stop fidgeting, your tie is fine."
Steve felt a lump in his throat as he messed with his hair, "are you sure about this?"
"Yes," she smiled. "Are you?"
He replied firmly, "I told you earlier."
"Then stop fidgeting," she complained as they pulled up to the mansion. The party was already starting, and she looked out the window before pulling in. "Diplomats, senators, famous people...you're going to stick out like a sore thumb either way."
He sighed as the rot iron gates opened and she pulled in, there wasn't any paparazzi so he was glad about that. He climbed out uncomfortably, "thanks, Nat."
"Go on, lover boy," she smiled as he closed the door.
The mansion was an older place with columns and arches. There was a nice water fountain in front where all the other cars were pulling up. As he walked he realized that there were a lot of teenage kids of diplomats there was as well. He didn't want to be at a kids party honestly but Kay was going to be there. As he walked in he looked around, he saw of the ronin faces but most of the faces were unknown to him. The music was pleasant and not as kiddish as he was expecting.
"Steve Rogers," he heard someone call.
He looked over and saw the tall skinny red head he was briefly introduced to at the Avengers facility, "Miss Mauri."
She wore a pantsuit in evergreen with bright red heals, "please, its Raleigh."
He shook her hand, "you haven't seen Tony by any chance?"
"No," she said with an unenthusiastic tone. "Come, Hoshi would like to see you before you mingle."
"Great," he mumbled under his breath as he walked with the woman to a study just off of the main room.
Hoshi was putting on earrings in the mirror when they came in, and she smiled at them in her reflection, "oh, you found him!"
"Hello, Miss Nakano," he greeted.
"Always the perfect gentlemen," she said with a smile as she turned around. She was walking again, although with a bit of a limp now, and she looked rather stunning in her fuchsia colored evening dress. She wore matching stilettos, "its been a while."
He remembered their last conversation at the Avengers facility, "its nice to see you again."
She rolled her eyes, "I'm sure its not but well, you're going to be here whether or not you like it. My daughter seems to think you're the greatest thing since sliced bread. She wanted to meet you as her present, but I assure you she doesn't have a crush or anything."
"That's nice to know."
She smiled at his black dress shirt and red tie, "you clean up very nicely. I might say. Clint seems certain that you'll behave when Tony gets here. Is that true?"
"I will, but you should know who has the real inhibition problems."
She smiled darkly and looked at Raleigh, "he can stay. Is there anything you would like to tell me Captain?"
Steve contemplated Kayura for a moment, but he realized if Kay wanted to be there, she would be, "everything is alright, Miss Nakano."
"Hm," she said quietly as she grabbed her cane and started to walk out of the study.
Steve stayed for a moment as the two women left and saw something out of the corner of his eye. He looked back quickly and saw the silver haired warlord sitting in the open window. Steve greeted, "hello, sir."
Dais smiled, "you are a dangerous, I give you that. How are you, Taichou-san?"
Steve recognized it as the word for captain, "well, and yourself, Dais?"
"Fine," he said jumping down and walking towards him. "I came to talk to you before tonight continued on."
Steve slipped his hands in his pocket, "you've been gone a while, does your queen know you're here?"
"She doesn't, she was never able to keep track of us," he laughed. "are your intentions still the same, young man?"
It had been a long time since he had been called that, but considering Dais was way older than he was still, he was a child compared to them, "yes..."
"Good," he said. "I just wanted to be sure before I let you know that Kayura is waiting for you upstairs on the balcony."
Steve felt his throat get caught, "she's here already?"
Dais laughed, "you remind me of the mess I was in when I was a young man."
"Sir?"
"Unlike the other warlords, I was a family man. I had a wife and daughter who was the spitting image of our beloved Queen," he said softly. "Before I became the destined warrior I am today, she was my reason for fighting. She lifted me and made my ideals as solid as rock. Her father was one of the most terrible shogun's in existence and I still had courage to ask her to be mine. I already approve of you more than Ryo, so your battle is half won."
Steve felt his cheeks grow hot, "then you know I have a ring?"
"It's obvious isn't it, your twitchy and playing nice with the Queen," he laughed. "You'll be fine, she came didn't she? She could have easily locked those doors tight and never came back, but she did. There must have been a reason more than us."
Steve felt more confident with his statement, "thank you, sir."
"Now, go on," he smiled.
Steve nodded and fiddled with his tie one more time and headed out to leave, he looked back and the man was gone. He saw the party was going steady and decided he wanted to see Kayura before he had to deal with Tony at all. He started up the stairs, his hands sweating and his heart still in his throat. As he reached the top of the stairs he looked down the hall and caught a glimpse of Hoshi pushing Tony away playfully, "not now...Kento's here.."
Tony saw Steve and broke his grip on the small woman, "capsicle..."
Steve rolled his eyes, "Miss Nakano, I just want a breath of evening air. Where's the balcony?"
She turned scarlet and pointed, "to the left."
Steve continued on his way to talk to talk Kayura but said, "I may be old fashioned, Tony, but considering your view point on things right now, you're one hell of hypocrite if I ever saw one."
Hoshi grabbed Tony's hand to keep him from jumping at him, "don't..."
Tony yanked away from her and started downstairs, "I told you this was a bad idea."