I'm very sorry for the long hiatus. I tried to find a time to write, but really when you work 12-hours a day, there wasn't any time.
I missed writing so much, and more importantly, I missed you guys! Readers rocks! *throwing virtual shawarma around*
So, I already watched Iron Man 3, and *trying hard not to squeal* it was fucking awesome. *sighs* I love Pepperony.
Also, I am very well aware of my grammar disadvantage. Sadly, I'm still trying to work my way around this website and I hope my condition (grammar disadvantage) won't stop you from reading this to the end.
Fluffiness around the corner. Just giving you some heads-up.
And a little warning for angst.
Disclaimer; As usual, I own none of the Avengers.
Chapter 16- Celebration
"Guys, stahp. Before I get diabetes from all of this sweetness," Darcy sort of wailed as she stepped into Stark Industries' private jet, right behind Tony and Pepper.
Tony, who had his arm wrapped carelessly around Pepper's thin waist, his hand dangerously close to her butt –purposely so, smirked lowering down his aviator shades.
"Shut up, Darce," he said smugly. "I do what I want."
Darcy rolled her eyes and took a place in the jet. Tony sat with Pepper, while Clint sat with Natasha. Jane happily sat on Thor's lap. Bruce and Steve sat facing each other near the window. Bruce was typing into his Nokia, and Steve had his sketchbook in his hands, but his eyes were looking outside the window.
Darcy flopped down on a seat. "I am destined to die alone," she said dramatically. "Everyone has someone and I just have my frickin' cupcake," she held out a cupcake she'd picked up before getting into the plane. "I love you cupcake."
Everyone laughed. Rhodey spoke up, "Don't worry Darce. I am with you."
"Thanks Hot Rod," Darcy grinned.
Finally everyone settled down and their journey back to New York began.
X
When the jet finally landed, there was someone they weren't expecting waiting them to get out of the jet.
"Holy crap!" Clint swore. "What the hell is he doing here? Tony? Tony?"
Tony took off his aviator shades, glaring at the unexpected/unwanted visitor. "Howard sent you?"
"I'm here on my own volition, Stark," the visitor answered, serious.
Tony snorted. "Yeah, right, and your name is not Nicholas."
"I just wanted to see you, in personal. And your father is unaware of the fact that you were found and coming home today."
"Who told you I was found? And most importantly, how did you know I was coming home?"
The visitor shrugged.
Tony glanced at his friends (and girlfriend) accusingly. They shrugged. His gaze stopped at Happy, who was carrying Tony's suitcase. "Happy…" Tony said in a threatening tone.
Happy swallowed. "Guilty as charged."
Tony rolled his eyes. They were sure they heard Tony muttered 'Dick' under his breath. "What do you want, Nick?"
"It's Mr. Fury," Principal Fury corrected. "I would like to speak you in private."
"Either you speak now or not at all," Tony suggested. "I have a lot to catch up with my life, you know."
Principal Fury rolled his eyes. "The cops have a lead on your case," he said finally, fetching an official-looking file from his coat pocket. "You might want to do further research."
Which actually means, you might want to be done with it, for once and for all.
Tony took the file from the principal and tucked it under one arm. "That's all?"
"Your detention from the week before is still going on as usual," the older men informed.
"Oh have a heart!" Tony complained. "I just got back to normal, you know."
Principal Fury smirked. "Good afternoon, Stark."
X
"Okay so, I need two things right now," Tony announced as they climbed into the limo, to take them to the Stark Tower from the airport. "First, American cheeseburgers. Second –"
"No Tony," Pepper cut him off, seeing the suggestive looks in his eyes. The rest laughed.
Tony huffed. "It's not what you think," he whined, "Though a make-out session sounds really good right now," he muttered to himself. "Happy, I need a press conference. Like, right now."
His friends stared at him in disbelief.
"What?" Tony questioned. "I need to clear up all this mess. Cheeseburgers first, though."
Happy obliged. About forty-five minutes later, they were escorted out of the limo into the Stark Tower.
"I will take no question," Tony announced imperiously as he was clear to speak. Cameras flashed and the voices of reporters that were trying to get his attention died down. "The cause of this press conference is to clears things up."
"First –I did watch the press conference where everyone in America saw my friends begged me to come home. Second, I do not suffer from PTSD from the accident back in September. Third, the incident back in September was an attempted murder, not an accident. The cops are still investigating the case."
Tony raised his hand. "I'll take no question," he said as the reporters started to fire questions.
"Fourth, the relationship I have with my father is to stay with me. I prefer to keep my family issue to myself. And lastly," he smirked to the camera and threw a look at Pepper. "I am officially dating the finest girl in New York City –Virginia Potts or as I affectionately nicknamed her –Pepper."
The cameras flashed again, this time the focus was on Pepper. She shied away, hiding behind Steve's tall figure.
Tony smiled. "And that's all I have to say, have a nice, uh evening."
With that, Tony walked away from the stage. Happy and seven other bodyguards made a weird circle around Tony and his friends escorting them to Tony's penthouse.
The media were never going to let him live that down.
X
Coincidentally, (or as Tony intended) they had flown back on Friday after spending a couple of days in Malibu, so they had the entire weekend to themselves. They had sleepover for two nights in a row, the first night witnessed the couples cuddling (Peggy and Betty came over, picked up by Happy on Tony's request); Darcy and Rhodey sat on the couch, lonely. They watched 10 things I hate about you and 16 Candles because the girls were dying for some 80's movies.
On the second night, they had this hide-and-seek game/spy-assassin game, held on the entire Stark Tower. Basically only the bodyguards and weekends receptionists were in the building beside themselves so it was okay to make a little chaos. Hehehe. They broke down into teams, equipped with a couple of absolutely safe but cool Stark tech weapons, and chose a floor as a base.
There were team Pepperony (Pepper and Tony, duh), team Merida (Clint and Natasha), team Awesomeness (Darcy and Rhodey) team Culver-Shield (Bruce and Betty) team Fosterson (Thor and Jane) and team Margaret (Steve and Peggy). They had Jarvis to record the entire game. The winner will decide what movie to watch, what they will have for dinner and what they will do on Sunday.
Team Pepperony took shelter on Tony's penthouse, while team Merida had the Gymnasium floor. Culver-Shield had the lab (which pissed Tony off in the beginning). Team Fosterson had the first floor and team Margaret took the library floor. Team Awesomeness had the second floor.
The game finally started, and they trudged off to find the opposition teams. Clint and Natasha separated their ways; Clint crawled into the air vents while Natasha sneaked off to find the 'enemies'. Tony and Pepper managed to get down to the second floor, using Tony's (shh) private elevator. They decided that team Awesomeness will be the easiest to take down.
Their guess was right.
Anyway, after four hours, fifteen minutes and forty-two seconds, team Merida won. This wasn't really surprising, as Tony had put it, "Well, they had Clint crawling in the vents and Natasha could kill you with her glare."
Clint and Natasha decided that they will have lasagna and pizzas for dinner and Clint had gentlemanly let Natasha choose a movie to watch. She picked the House of Wax and nobody wanted to leave the common area without someone to accompany them.
They actually planned to hang out at Central Park on Sunday, but the media were still hot on Tony's tail after his press conference on Friday. So (again) they spent the entire afternoon in Stark Tower, playing Nintendo Wii.
By six p.m. Happy was deployed to send everyone home, except for Pepper. Her parents called every now and then to inform that the reporters were literally in front of their door and windows. Tony decided that it wasn't safe for Pepper to come home, so he let her stay at Stark Tower and had Happy pick up her uniform at home for school tomorrow.
"Natasha's birthday is this Tuesday," Pepper spoke up suddenly. They were in the common area, The Strokes' Undercover of Darkness playing in the background. "I wonder what I should get her."
Tony landed next to her, a glass of orange juice in his hand. "Earrings."
Pepper rolled her eyes. "How creative."
"I mean, we could have it custom-made. I know a couple of people…" Tony shrugged. "Or you can give her a copy of her favorite book."
"Actually, that's not a bad idea."
They leaned closer, their shoulders and thighs touched. Tony draped an arm across her shoulders.
"Tony, I need to talk to you about something."
Tony turned to look at her. "About what?"
"The file Principal Fury gave you the other day," Pepper sighed. "I am worried about you."
Tony stiffened. "There's nothing for you to worry about, I assure you."
"I know you since you were five –I know you will not easily let the things pass," Pepper put a hand on his chest, "I don't want you to get into the harm's way."
"I can take care of myself, Pep, if that will be any help."
Pepper rolled her eyes, absolutely doubting Tony's survival skills.
"Stop worrying Pepper," Tony said softly, tucking a strand of hair behind Pepper's ear. "I assure you, I can take care of myself." He placed a kiss on her lips and smiled, "Wait a minute, I'll get the air mattress and pillows and whatever. We'll sleep here."
Less than minute later, their makeshift bed was ready in the living room. Pepper lay down next to him, in his black T-shirt and pajama shorts. They lay on their sides, facing each other.
"I can't sleep," Pepper told him. "There are a million things running through my head."
He pulled her closer with one arm. "Hmm, such as?"
"I wonder if this would ever work between us," she confided. "You're going to college next fall. And I am stuck in high school for two more years. I'm not sure how all this long-distance relationship works and if it could work at all. And there'll be a lot of girls in the college and when you started to work and they all will be gorgeous and sexy and I –"
Tony silenced her with a sloppy, longing kiss. "Pepper, stop. The level of insecurity you have in you is absurdly high."
"I can't help it," she laughed nervously. "You are a Stark. And I am just Pepper."
Tony wagged his finger. "You're the finest girl in New York. In the whole wide world. I will make sure all of these things," he gestured with his hands, "will work. I've looked Pepper. There'll never be another girl like you. You're the best for me."
"Yeah, tell me that when you found a much more capable girl at college."
"Pep, please."
Pepper sighed. "I cannot help it. It's like my head going auto-pilot. I can't sleep."
"Sleep, Pep. We've got school tomorrow," he stroked her hair softly.
Silence. And then-
"You are the hole in my head," Tony sang quietly. "You are the space in my bed."
You are the silence between what I thought,
And what I said,
He stroked her shoulder, as if to soothe her.
You're the nighttime fear,
You're the morning when it's clear,
When it's over you'll start,
You're my head,
You're my heart,
It was an undeniable fact. He needed her; in every sense. She was his conscious, helping him choose in a multiple-choice question in the life-test. How could she not realize that? Losing her was one of his biggest fears, and in the morning he woke up, and realize that she was there, he was relieved.
She was all that matters.
No light, no light, in your bright blue eyes,
I never knew daylight could be so violent,
A revelation in the light of day,
You can't choose what stays and what fades away,
She was close to tears right now, her hand clutching to his waist. Weak and frail. She was scared of losing him too. There was a dull light in her eyes.
She had to know that things just happen. And they had to just put up with it. And she had to know that he will fight for her. He won't just let her slip away.
And I'd do anything to make you stay,
No light, no light, no light,
Tell me what you want me to say,
He won't just leave and abandon her, if that was the kind of reassurance she need. He understood her insecurity. He'd never have a girlfriend before. Dating him won't be easy for her. But he will make her stay; because she wanted to, and he wanted it just as bad as her.
Through the crowd I was crying out,
And in your place there were a thousand other faces,
I was disappearing in plain sight,
Heaven help me, I need to make it right,
He will fix and make everything right and perfect for her.
You want a revelation,
You want to get it right,
But it's a conversation,
I can't have tonight,
You want a revelation,
Some kind of resolution,
You want a revelation
He won't have this conversation tonight. No, he wasn't avoiding. He understood she needed a solution. But tonight, they needed to sleep; cause they've got school tomorrow and because they had just enough time to figure out the rest of their life.
No light, no light, in your bright blue eyes,
I never knew daylight could be so violent,
A revelation in the light of day,
You can't choose what stays and what fades away,
And I'd do anything to make you stay,
No light, no light, no light,
Tell me what you want me to say,
She began to crack the smallest of smiles. He saw her eyelids grew heavy but struggled to stay awake to look at him.
Would you leave me,
If I told what I'd done,
And would you need me,
If I told you what I'd become,
Cause it's so easy,
To say it to a crowd,
But it's so hard,
To say it to you out loud,
It was fucking easy to tell the reporters that he was dating Pepper. It was easy to tell himself and his friends that he will make him and Pepper make it through, but admitting it to Pepper sounds terrifying.
No light, no light, in your bright blue eyes,
I never knew daylight could be so violent,
A revelation in the light of day,
You can't choose what stays and what fades away,
Tell me what you want me to say,
"Tell me what you want me to say," he sang finally, hugging her closer. "Pepper, I love you. And no, it's not like those cheesy rom-coms you made me watch. I mean it. I love you as a friend, as a best-friend and something more. We will make it through this. That's what adolescence is made of right? Raging hormones and life-changing decisions."
He gave her a kiss, "Good night."
"G'night," she whispered back, quite sleepily. "Promise me, we'll make it work?"
"Promise."
X
You're living, you occupy space, and you have mass.
You know what that means?
You matter.
The words etched to the screen of his monitor –bold, somewhat confident.
But Loki stared at the words as if it were something he can't comprehend. As if it was typed in Mesopotamia's hieroglyphs or Chinese transcript.
I'm dead inside, treated as if I'm not existed,
I don't matter.
The voice inside his head repeated over and over again.
He had fought with his adoptive parents -or rather with his adoptive father, since his adoptive mother was content playing the sympathetic peacekeeper. His mind was reeling, replaying back the scene the night before Thor got home.
xxx
"Why wouldn't you tell me who I am? That I am the son of a murderer?" Loki snarled. They were having a tense dinner, before Loki decided to snap out of the rising tension. "Why wouldn't you just come clean with me firsthand?"
Mr. Odinson rubbed his forehead. "You are too young. I don't know what the effect is on you. You don't even take the last year's news well."
"That I am adopted? I can live with that, even if I had to know from misplaced family documents," Loki sneered. "But hiding the facts of who I actually am?"
Mrs. Odinson whimpered. "We don't want you to feel any different."
"Oh, yeah? A good job at that," Loki said sarcastically. "You might not treat me any different, but this man-" he pointed a finger at his adoptive father, "he did."
"Loki, I'd never –" Mr. Odinson tried to speak.
"Bullshit!" Loki threw a plate at the wall. The ceramic lay cracked on the floor. "You were never there for me. But when it comes to Thor, suddenly, all the meetings in your schedule disappear and you have a lot of free time."
Loki took his face to his hands, an effort to hide the tears that were threatening to drop. "It makes sense why Thor is always the first thing in your list. Because even when you claim you love me, you could never accept the fact that I'm the breed of the monster the parents tell their kids at night!"
"You could've told me who I was from the beginning," Loki said quietly. "You could just let me die in the dysfunctional, rundown Child Foster Care. It will not make any different. You could've saved me. Because I'm dead to the world already."
Loki stomped to his room, accidently stepping into the pieces of broken ceramic. His foot bleed, but he sucked in a deep breath and ignore the pain. In his room, locked and barricaded with his dresser, he treated his wound carefully.
There were only sounds of his adoptive parents arguing that night, and music from a college party two houses down the road.
Nobody would have noticed a damaged boy, crying his bleeding heart out, trying to ignore all the pain that sickened him in every way possible.
He was already dead to the world.
xxx
His adoptive parents didn't bother him. They probably think that he needed time to cool-off. But right now, all he needed was someone that to tell him that it was going to be okay.
Even if it wasn't.
"Loki?" someone knocked on his door. Thor. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"
Loki shook off his train of thoughts. "What do you want Thor?" He asked, almost growling.
"Mother told me you had a fight with father the night before I got home," Thor said wistfully. "I want to make sure if you're okay."
"I am okay, Thor," Loki brushed him off.
Thor's sigh can be heard from behind the door. "I know you, brother. You're not okay."
"I am not your brother," Loki snarled, standing up. His injured foot stomped on the floor a little too harsh. "Ouch!" He exclaimed, rubbing his bandaged foot.
Thor knocked on the door repeatedly. "Loki? Loki? Are you okay?"
"Shut up, you big oaf!" Loki threw his body on the bed. "I'm fine. I don't need anyone."
Thor took a deep breath. "If you say so, Loki. If there's anything I can help you with, just tell me. I will try to help you," Thor offered sincerely. "Because, adopted or not, you are still my brother."
Loki's heart warmed upon Thor's words, but it wasn't enough to heal the wounds in his heart.
x
Monday rolled in, with a cluster of reporters waiting at Stark Tower and SHIELD Prep. Apparently the news of the younger Stark finally dating (instead of having random hook-ups) was too hot to handle. Howard still didn't show up to greet his son, but Tony shook off the fact like Howard didn't matter.
When Tony and Pepper got into the limo, Happy handed a couple of newspaper and magazines. All of them had Tony and Pepper on the covers but with different headlines.
The throne prince of Stark Industries finally found a damsel.
Pepper Potts, good enough for Stark?
Pepperony finally cut the sexual tension.
And so on. Tony squeezed Pepper's hand as she read an article that truly scrutinized her capability of being Tony's girlfriend.
"Hey, you're good enough," Tony whispered as Happy pulled up right in front of SHIELD Prep's main entrance. "I know you are. They don't know that."
Camera flashed as they walked out of the limo, hand-in-hand. Tony pulled Pepper closer, his arm wrapped around her shoulder. She was clutching to the front of his shirt like that was all that mattered. As soon as they were inside, Natasha grabbed Pepper and threw death glares at the other students who tried to approach Pepper.
"All I've ever done is make her life harder than it usually is," Tony sighed as Pepper and Natasha walked toward their class.
Clint huffed. "Never thought the day I'd see the day you deprecating yourself."
Tony rolled his eyes. "Yeah well, you'd seen it. Anyway I've got something to ask you."
"Shoot."
"Given the circumstance, I mean our relationship statuses right now," Tony shrugged, jutting his bottom lips out, "have you discussed with Natasha about your relationship once you go to college and she's still stuck in high school for two more years?"
That shut Clint up for a moment. "The topic never comes up. But we'll figure it out along the way. Why?"
"I don't want to hurt Pepper," Tony confessed. "Being in long-distance relationship test a little bit too much, y'know?"
"Yeah," Clint nodded. Frown lines appeared on his forehead. "God I need to talk to Natasha about this."
Tony made a 'stop' gesture with his hand. "Not this week. Her birthday remember?"
Clint face-palmed. "I haven't bought her any present yet. Damn."
"How's she going to celebrate it?"
Shrugging, Clint's lips pulled up in the corner. "She just want to have a day out. Shopping with the girls, movies, dinner. Nothing too fancy."
"'Kay," Tony nodded. "See you later."
X
"I swear today is the hardest to keep my shit straight," Miss Hill complained as she sat down on the chair in Mr. Coulson's office.
Mr. Coulson smiled a little. "Is that why you are here?"
Miss Hill nodded, admitting. "My phone desk keep ringing since early in the morning. The Daily Bugle, Vanity Fair, Teen Vogue, you name it. The reporters were practically begging with Fury for permission to interview Stark and Potts. I officially told some woman from New York Times to fuck off."
"It's bound to happen," Mr. Coulson said wisely. "It's Stark."
"I was told he is less mischievous than usual," Miss Hill said, snorting, as if disbelieving the rumor. "Xavier told me when I saw him at the cafeteria, like fifteen-minutes ago. Maybe he and Potts is a good thing, after all."
Mr. Coulson sighed. "That kid is having hell of a year. First, the accident back in September. And then the chemical poisoning. And Howard don't even give a damn."
"That guy is so screwed, even before his wife died," Miss Hill shrugged. "I'm a little sorry for Tony. Lost his mother at such young age, and have to go through life with a father that can't even cut his time for him."
"He's a strong kid," Mr. Coulson commented. "Anyone else would be insane, or lash out. Take Loki as an example."
"Thor's brother?"
"Um hmm," Mr. Coulson sipped on his black coffee. "He found out that he was adopted last year. It is bad enough that their father never make an effort to make Loki feel loved."
Miss Hill laughed. "I thought you weren't allowed to talk about the kid you play Dr. Phil with. No pun intended."
"I am," Mr. Coulson admitted, chuckling, "But sometimes I just need to let it out, you know. Their parents thought being teenagers is easy. They don't know the struggles their kids put up with every single day. I feel sorry for them."
"You're good with your job, Phil. These kids need to know that they have someone to talk to."
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
"Come in, Mr. Coulson instructed.
Speak of the devil, Loki walked in, jaws squared and eyes cold. His books clutched close to his chest with one arm. His other hand was on the doorknob. He was hovering at the door, hesitating whether to come in or just to walk away.
"Loki? I thought we don't have any session today," Mr. Coulson stated, riffling through his schedule, re-checking it.
"We don't," Loki answered, a little harsh. "But I need to talk to…someone. Considering you have a guest, probably it's better if I leave."
"It's okay," Miss Hill stood, picking up her coffee. "I'm just leaving. See you later Phil." She winked playfully and walked out the door.
Loki sat down on the chair that was occupied by Miss Hill before, after closing the door behind him. He put down his books to the empty chair next to him. He looked at Mr. Coulson nervously.
"How are you today, Loki?" Mr. Coulson asked politely.
Loki cleared his throat. "Not so fine."
"What happened?"
"I had an argument with my adoptive father, the night before Thor got home," Loki admitted. "You know the serial-mass murderer, Laufeyson?"
Mr. Coulson flinched. Oh, that guy made a name out of the joy of killing people in the late-nineties. He nodded to Loki.
"I am his son," Loki stated coldly.
"Loki-"
Loki cut him off. "And that was when things started to make sense. That was why my adoptive father could never love me, like he loved Thor. In his eyes, I am the breed of a monster." Loki shuddered, looking down to his hands. "Looking back on the scars I have engraved upon myself, it made me think, how would I even turn out okay? If I can hurt myself, I am sure I can hurt other people too."
"Loki, I heard once, 'Faith cannot be inherited from a priest of a father'" Mr. Coulson said soothingly. "The same goes with evil. You've read the book I gave you the other day?"
Loki nodded. The book had been The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.
"You must've known this line then, 'we can't choose where we came from, but we can choose where to go from there'" Mr. Coulson smiled. "You're not your father Loki. You're a bright student. You never caused harm to other students."
"Thor told me," Loki said quietly. "That no matter what happen, I am still his brother. But it's not enough. It helps, but it's not enough. I don't know why. I feel selfish. Thor is the only person that doesn't lose faith on me. It should have been enough, but it doesn't feel like it. Am I selfish?"
"You're not selfish, Loki. No. Right now, you are weak, you need something to rely on," Mr. Coulson coaxed. "Like a building under construction, you need a stable footing Loki. Thor is only one person to support you; of course you'll feel that he alone is not enough."
Loki sighed. "Who would ever support me?"
"I am sure your adoptive mother will be happy to support you. After all, she is the one who is worried about you the most."
X
Tuesday after school, Natasha quickly changed into a floral-print blouse, tucked into a light brown skirt. She'd put on a jacket and tights to avoid the November's chill. She had planned to go to the movies with her friends and shopping with the girls. Her parents would be preparing the birthday dinner, which they allowed her to invite her friends.
"Hey, baby doll," Clint greeted as she called him to ask his whereabouts. "You ready?"
"I was born ready," she joked.
She could hear his grin. "Wait for me at the lobby. I'll be there in a minute."
She did, and a moment later, Clint's '67 Impala pulled up in front of the building of her apartment. She smiled and got into the car. Clint greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.
"They already are at the movies," Clint informed. "Tony is bitching about our lateness. The reporters are practically choking him for new gossips."
"You're late on purpose."
Clint grinned cheekily and got something out of his pocket. A small red-colored velvet box, tied up with silver ribbon. "Happy sixteenth birthday, Alianovna," he whispered, calling her by her middle name. "I love you."
She blushed. "You don't have to."
"Barney said, if a girl says, 'you don't have to get me something' it means 'you'd better get me something cute, pretty and expensive'" Clint mimicked his older brother. "By the way, Pop, Nana and Barney says to tell you 'Happy Birthday' and something along the lines of 'may you have a prosper life' They invited you and your parents for Thanskgiving this Thursday."
She laughed. "Just get us to the movies, Barton."
"Your wish is my command, ma'am."
Dinner was awesome, Natasha decided. Her mom made her favorite red velvet cake and her dad had decorated the living room with the pictures of her from her first day coming to the world to her recent photograph (which was from yesterday). It was slightly embarrassing, with Tony's snarky, "What happened to the happy-bubbly-smiling redhead Russian baby over there?"
He received a slap on the back of his head for that. From her.
Her friends, especially Thor happily dug into the spaghetti and lemon meringue pie. Her parents even leave her alone with her friends for a couple of hours and gave them the access to the alcohol cabinet, which only Tony get excited about.
She'd gotten silver-customized earrings from Tony. It was petite, and shaped like a slender spider. Pepper gave her a copy of Anna Karenina by her favorite Russian author, Leo Tolstoy. Her parents left a quite amount of money into her account. Her godfather, Ivan Petrovich did the same.
"You know why I got you necklace?" Clint asked softly. He was about to leave, standing with her at the doorway.
Natasha raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"I wanted to get you a ring, originally," Clint admitted, colors rising to his cheeks. "But Tony asked me something that made me change my mind."
"What did he ask?"
Clint took a deep breath. "I am going to college next fall. You're stuck in high school for two more years. It is my dream to marry you Tasha, but I have to be realistic. Anything can happen in two years. I don't know whether we are strong enough to go through the distance."
"Clint-"
"I could have gotten you a ring, but I could be making a promise I couldn't keep. I don't want to disappoint you."
Natasha exhaled. "Damn Stark." She looked at Clint, "We will talk about this later. Right now, just enjoy the time we had left."
Before Clint went away and left her.
X
Tony fixed his lilac tie.
Since he had no plans for Thanksgiving, so here he was, in his Audi, driving his way to the Potts' residence. Pepper's parents invited him to join their little Thanksgiving dinner. Howard was never home on public holidays.
Normally, he wouldn't bother to bring anything to the dinner he was invited to, except if it was a birthday party of someone he cared to please. But this was the Potts, and cough-cough damn him if he didn't bring anything to please the family of the girl he was going to cough-cough marry someday in the future.
And so he stepped in front of the Potts' door with a chicken-and-mushroom pie in one hand. He pressed the ring, and Pepper came to greet him. She was in a decent cream-colored knee-length dress, layered with a pale yellow short sleeved button up, and tied up on her waist.
That button up was his. When did she got her hands on his wardrobe?
He smirked. "Nice shirt."
Pepper blushed. "Hi," she murmured nervously. Then she looked at the box in his hands. "I told you, you don't have to bring anything."
"Just trying to please my future in-laws," he shrugged and Pepper blushed some more.
"Come on in, my parents and Savannah missed you," she pulled him inside.
Pepper's dad greeted him in the living room ("Just call me Charles, Tony. You've known me too long to keep calling me Mr. Potts.") Savannah bounded toward him from her bedroom, squealing.
"Tony! I miss you, I thought you would never come back," she said, jumping toward his arms. Tony happily pulled her up. "Ginny said you were very sick," Savannah nodded her head importantly. "Are you okay now?"
"I'm okay now, baby girl," Tony smiled. "How are you?"
Savannah grinned. "I'm good. On Monday, I learned to make greeting cards. I used a lot of glitters and stars and marker pens. I made one for you," she pulled up a card from the pocket of her tiny sweater and handed it to Tony.
Tony took the card, red colored with gold sparkles and 'Welcome Home, I Miss You Tony' written in glowing blue handwriting. He tucked the card inside his suit's pocket. "Thanks Savannah. I miss you too."
When the dinner started, the Potts, starting with Charles saying what he was thankful for. They went around in circle, reciting what they were thankful for.
"I'm thankful that I have someone I cares about come back home to me," Pepper said, hands clasped together in front of her.
Her family was turning to him now, expecting. Tony had never been religious but he clasped his hands and racked his mind to say something.
"I am thankful that I have a girl who loves me as much as I love her and I don't have to spend Thanksgiving alone," he finally said.
Pepper blushed again at that, but then Charles recited the prayer and they started eating.
"Tony, is it true that you and Ginny are dating?" Savannah asked, spooning her mashed potatoes.
Tony glanced at Pepper's parents who were shaking their heads in amusement. "Yeah we are."
"What is dating?"
"Um," he glanced at Pepper for help.
Pepper cleared her throat. "Dating is when two people who like each other go out together."
"Dad said I'm not allowed to date until I am Ginny's age," Savannah told Tony. "I am five and Ginny's is fifteen and a half. That means," she counted with her fingers. "I have to wait ten years. Ten years is a long time."
The older people at the table chuckled in delight. Savannah never ceased to humor people with her wits.
x
"Tony, can I talk to you for a moment?"
Charles Potts demanded in soft but firm tone. Tony was only about to say goodbye to Pepper and Savannah.
Uh oh, Tony thought. This is the you-better-don't break-her-heart-speech-or the-police-won't-find-your-body speech from the father.
"Yes sir?"
"It's Charles," Mr. Potts corrected, "I'm aware that you love Virginia. And I know she loves you too. I know that you both are teenagers and I was one before. I am also aware of your previous relationships, which didn't bother me exactly, 'cause God knows I'd known you since you were six." He exhaled, "Virginia is my first daughter. I would hate it to have her brokenhearted. I'm confident that you can make her happy. But please, keep it that way. Don't hurt her. She has loved you for a way too long."
Tony was a little shocked. He didn't expect that. "I won't hurt her, if I can help it. I am saying sorry in forward if I hurt her in the future. People get hurt when they got close to me; it's collateral damage. I told her that even before we started dating. She'd be good for me, Charles. I'd tell you that. You have raised a capable daughter that amazes me, every now and then."
"I am happy to hear that," Mr. Potts smiled. "But please take a good care of her."
"I will," Tony assured. "Though technically the roles are reversed. I thought this was the moment when you say 'if you hurt my daughter, no one will ever find your body' that kind of thing."
Mr. Potts laughed. "You have guts, Tony. And no, this wasn't the moment. I trust you, Tony. I've known you since you were a boy. Of all people I've known, you probably will be the only one who laughs in the face of Death."
Tony smirked. Nobody sane enough to trust him with someone they were so dear. But Mr. Potts just gave him the faith that Tony will be able to take care of his daughter. Not even Howard trusted him that high. Howard never trusted him enough.
That was when he made a promise with himself that he won't break the promise, not ever.
x
In the Banners' apartment, Bruce and his mom were enjoying their takeaway dinner. Her mom had brought some cheeseburgers and fries and sodas for their Thanksgiving dinner. His father was laying on the couch in the living room, passed out after his tenth drink.
They were eating in his bedroom. Bruce actually was going to bed when his mom suddenly came in with food that automatically made his stomach growled. Both of them joked around, talking and eating.
"So, Robert, what are you thankful for this year?" Mrs. Banner asked, peering at her son.
Bruce who sat cross-legged on the floor of his bedroom shrugged.
"I don't really know."
"I am thankful that I have a brilliant son that I am very proud of, knowing that he will do good with his life and being friends with people that he can trust," Mrs. Banner said, smiling fondly.
Bruce smiled back. What was he thankful for? He thought of his friends; sure Tony was all alone for Thanksgiving, which was worse than Bruce but then again he had Pepper to spend Thanksgiving with. Steve and his family would be celebrating Thanksgiving like any normal/perfect All-American family would. Natasha's and Clint's family sure was having a blast at dinner, considering Clint's brother of a joker was there. Betty was dragged to her grandparents' home for dinner. Thor probably was feasting over the turkey.
But him?
He was sitting on the floor of his bedroom, enjoying cheeseburgers and fries for Thanksgiving with his mom.
It wasn't the perfect Thanksgiving.
But at least he was enjoying every second of it. His mom had good-naturedly teased him about Betty. His dad was unconscious in another room thus he can't bother them eating and joking around. Topper was out of his cage and feasting on the tuna-flavored cat food he had bought early in the evening.
His gaze landed on the photograph of him and Betty with the rest of their friends on the top of his dresser and he knew what he was thankful for.
"I am thankful that I have a girl that loves me, though she know how screwed up I am," Bruce confessed. "I am thankful that I have friends that I can rely on. I am thankful that Dad is passing out on the couch in the living room so he can't get mad at you. I am thankful that you brought home these sorry Thanksgiving foods but at least I am enjoying it."
Bruce had learned to find the happy bits between the scenes. And he was thankful for that.
x
Alright yay! This chapter took me long enough to finish cause I think you guys deserved a long-fluffy-angsty chapter. This story is not even near to finish but all in due time.
Reviews please? For depressed Loki?
Loki: I AM NOT DEPRESSED.
Tony: The signs are indicating that you are, Reindeer Games. But it's okay. Everyone get depressed, it's totally normal.
Pepper: The song belongs to Florence + the Machine titled No Light, no light. It's kind of my favorite song right now.
Tony: Yeah? Because I sang it to you?
Pepper: *blush*
Bruce: Hey Tony, when you're going to take your cat back?
Tony: Uh, later. And by the way, N will try to update real soon. So bear with her, 'cause heck, she's writing about me!
Bruce: Stop being a show-off, Tones
Tony: Bruce, you wound me, science-bro!
Bruce: I never agreed to the name. Ever.