This is how I would imagine them celebrating the 4th. Just enjoy.
They congregated on the deck, standing, sitting, or in Vision's case, floating two inches above the ground. Mingling together in a large mosaic of flesh tones.
Hundreds of agents joked and chattered, for once relaxing and not worried about expectations. Kate smiled down at all of them, just as cheerful. She glided above the carrier, silent as an owl, carrying an armload of fireworks. Although from the size, they were more like fire-rockets. Three feet long, with wicks more than six inches, they would make a grand spectacle. Except these wouldn't be lit and launched off the ground. Tony would shoot them straight out of the air, and Kate had the honor of throwing them.
She hovered beside him, watching the agents and grounded avengers gather around a hurriedly erected stage. Without warning music filled the air; a band. Put together by Steve, the group of musically talented agents played new and old music. Songs from Steve's past and modern ones. From where she was, Kate could hear them singing along.
Even though Steve and Kate had convinced Fury to do a fireworks show and have live music, he hadn't allowed them to wear anything but their SHIELD uniforms. But some of the agents hadn't listened. A few women wore beautiful white dresses with red trim and a few young guys pranced around in full red, white, and blue. However, the agents who had abided by the dress code did find their own ways to show patriotism. Many wore necklaces and hats but a few had painted faces or ribbons tied around arms and legs. Kate herself was sold white, sprinkled with thousands of red and blue stars, like freckles. She had spent weeks contemplating her coloring, trying to decide between traditional or something unique. Steve had helped with the design.
Kate and Tony were side by side, watching.
"You ready?" Kate asked, not able to keep the giddiness out of her voice. She didn't have to speak as loud as usual, because the carrier had been lowered to accommodate the audience.
"Yeah. What about you, hot shot?"
"Heck ya!"
Tony laughed, handing her a bag. Inside were more than a dozen black balls. She touched one, and a gritty residue coated her finger. The smell of rotten eggs started to become all too apparent as well.
"What's this?" she asked, wrinkling her nose.
"Something Bruce and I cooked up. It's gonna be great. Is that all Fury gave you?" he asked, pointing to the bundle in her arms.
"Yeah."
"I'm not a much of a patriot, but geez, that's treason. Good thing I made Sam get some more." And right on cue, Falcon glided right next to her. He had a bag of fireworks himself. These were more standard, but didn't look very legal.
"You sure this is safe?" Kate probed. She really didn't want an earful from Fury about how some agent's dress caught fire.
"About twenty-five percent sure."
"Thanks, Tony." She said sarcastically, "You know if something goes wrong, it's my fault, right?"
"Definitely." She rolled her eyes, but smiled anyway.
Then, they quieted. Down below, the agents had also adopted a respectful silence.
Steve was now on the band platform, microphone in hand.
"July fourth, seventeen seventy- six. One of the most well-known dates in history. It's the day the thirteen colonies declared independence from Great Britain. More than ten years later, that independence was won. But during those years, a lot of good men and women died for our freedom. Now here we are, over two-hundred years afterwards, enjoying that liberty. America is not about giving because you deserve it. It's about working for it. Every day. No matter what, if you want it, you work for it. I've seen people who warp the constitution to fit their own agendas, using the excuse that, 'It's fair.' It's not. Today is the day we decided, those many, many years ago, to become one nation. United, and free." He paused, letting it sink in. "I'm not saying it's perfect. Not at all. But here you have rights, more than most countries allow. It's our responsibility to improve how things are run, not complain. Countless men and women have died for this country. For you and me. Tonight, millions of Americans celebrate that independence, just like us. We are America. Land of the free, home of the brave. Let's keep it that way. God bless America." He finished, and everyone on the carrier clapped and cheered. Kate would have as well, except she couldn't without dropping everything. "Alright, your turn Tony."
Tony saluted Cap, who probably wouldn't see it.
"Alright Kate, let's dazzle."
She whooped, reaching into the bag Tony had given her, and flung one of the balls into the night sky. With her vision, she watching in vast detail as it curved up in the air.
Tony hit it dead on. Just like a bomb, it exploded in a brilliant display of gold and blue. Kate gasped in wonder. The sparks were fuller and more dazzling than anything she had ever seen. It lasted a while too. Some of the tendrils spiraled up and formed smaller outbursts of the larger one. It was, without a doubt, amazing.
Before it faded, she threw another. This one was red and yellow, a low disk fizzing white on the edges. Kate named them 'Sky Bombs'. The sky bombs wowed the gathering below. The cheering and roaring of the people elated her. It was intoxicating, this raw excitement.
"Alright save those for later. Use the crap ones Fury gave you." he told her. She nodded. Didn't want to waste all the good ones just yet.
Kate chucked one into the air. It didn't really thrill her as the others had, but it was still electrifying to be so close to the detonation.
At regular intervals Kate launched the rockets and the sky bombs in different combinations. Sam threw his as well, the double explosions synched, and the resulting boom rocked her in the air. Her favorite combination was two sky bombs. The subsequent thunderous rumbles and flashes of light deafened her, but she didn't care. Neither did the agents. They cheered, singing and not having a care in the world. It was a sight to see. The generally stiff and serious agents were suddenly replaced by young, carefree teens. Kate had never been happier. From where she was, it was hard to hear the band, but Kate could see them playing whole heartedly while the fireworks burst above. Beautiful chaos.
The color combinations varied, but gold seemed to be the most popular. All too soon, she ran out of sky bombs and rockets. All that remained in the bag was the smell of rotten eggs and greasy black powder.
"Tony!" she yelled. "I'm all out! Now what?"
"Sam's coming with more." He assured her.
They waited a minute. The band played forcefully, distracting the crowd from the empty sky. Then, Sam materialized out of the darkness, carrying a single, massive sky bomb. It was twice the size of a basketball, and looked more than heavy. He seemed to be struggling to stay airborne.
Sam shoved it into her arms. Kate lost a little altitude from the sheer weight. Her hands dug into the gritty powder, she clenched her teeth, and her muscles strained.
"What in the world Tony?" she shrieked. It had to weigh forty pounds!
"Just wait!"
"What?"
"Listen!"
"You're waiting for the music?! Why don't you hold it, and I'll sing along? I'm going to fall out of the sky in a minute!" she screeched. Already, she'd dropped two inches.
"Now!" He yelled. Kate grunted, swinging herself around. Arcing her back, she spun in a circle to gain momentum. Her spine screamed from the pain and sweat started to form on her fur. Just when she couldn't take it anymore, she released it. She took great heaving breaths. It ascended magnificently. At the apex, Tony shot it.
Red, white, and blue. Stars and stripes. Ribbons of color a half mile long studded the sky. The grand finale was more than grand. It was spectacular, astonishing, marvelous, and more! Bigger than imaginable, louder than anything, and stunning. The explosion had to have been heard for miles.
Kate didn't know how, but the colors formed little star shapes and shields. Gold sparks fizzled around the edges, giving it a flashy look. Tony's own personal touch.
It lasted for minutes, a long time for a fire work. Speechless, Kate hovered between the two men, proud and thrilled. This was the best holiday ever.
When it did end, she felt a little disappointed. Now that it was over, it would be time to clean up and go to bed. She did not look forward to scrubbing the mess off the deck. Ribbons, paper, and food everywhere, trampled under the cavorting agents.
The trio flew down to the carrier, where the opposite of an ending party was taking place. If anything, the agents danced harder, defying the inevitable end. A few bumped into Kate, who in turn squirmed. She found an open section with little people and started to move a little. She wanted to be a part of the throng, but not be jostled.
At some point she was caught in the flow of people, as a consequence stumbled into a dance circle. The people on the edge clapped, calling out. Kate was at a loss. She didn't know how to dance. Not at all. So, she did the only reasonable thing someone like her knew how to do; she vanished. Her suit adapted with her. The lab had finally developed a uniform to fit her needs.
The people on the edges at first laughed, assuming it was part of her routine, but some frowned and looked for her, even though she was already far away. Feeling a little embarrassed, she hovered above heads, looking for someone she knew. It was dark, but that didn't pose any problem. The issue was however, so many people where moving quickly and tightly together, that she struggled to focus on just one person. So instead, she looked to the walls. There, in the shadows, stood Loki.
Kate flew over to him, and gradually came back into sight. He didn't flinch, just continued surveying the crowd. He didn't seem interested in the party, but by the small movements he made, she could tell he was paying attention.
"Not in to dancing?" Kate asked.
He glanced at her. "Not in this way, no. I would have expected you to be in the thick of it." He a group of break-dancers a glare full of contempt.
Kate shrugged, giving him a lopsided grin. "Don't know how."
He gave her an incredulous look. "You don't know how to dance?"
She shook her head, eyes cast downward. She suddenly found a piece of ribbon very interesting.
"Well, I'm sure one of these drooling men will gladly assist you with that."
"What?" she asked, her head snapped back up.
He stared at her for a minute. "Have you failed to notice the young mortals who watch you? The same one has 'been assigned' to oversee the training hall every day for the past month. Fury rotates the guards every week."
"What? Come on, no one's going to like me. I'm not exactly attractive. Even before, I wasn't even close. I'm a freak of nature. Wings, tail, camouflage, and you know, telepathy. That's not what most guys look for." Kate meant every word.
"True, but a pretty girl, is still a pretty girl."
Kate was at a loss for words. "You think I'm pretty?"
Loki rolled his eyes. "Don't let it get to your head."
Kate smiled. That was the nicest compliment she'd ever heard him give.
Right then, as if the universe itself had caused it, the band struck up a slow song.
Loki sighed. He took Kate's hand, guiding her away from the safety of the shadows.
"Loki, no! I don't dance!" she said, trying to pull out of his grip. His hand tightened around hers. Kate was strong, almost matching Steve, but Loki was Asgardian. He had more than double Kate's strength.
"Someone must teach you, lest you make a fool of yourself when you dance with a suitor." He replied briskly.
Grudgingly, Kate relented. They got to the edge and he turned to face her. It was a seemingly thoughtless gesture, keeping them on the outskirts, nevertheless Kate knew in his own way he didn't want her to be even more uncomfortable.
"Now, put your hand on my shoulder." She did, feeling a little foolish.
It must have shown on her face, because then he added, "This is how you do it."
He took her other hand in his and placed his remaining one on her waist.
Kate flinched a little at the contact. She didn't like to be touched.
His gaze softened. "In all our time, have I ever hurt you?"
"Yes." She replied honestly. A bruise from their last sparring session was still healing on her leg. He had failed to heal it because according to him, she deserved it for not executing proper form during a drill he had assigned her.
He laughed. "Well, I have never done it out of malice."
She smiled back at him. That was definitely true.
During the song, he made small comments on where to place her feet and to remind her to stop trying to lead. By the end, she had it down.
"Well, you will not be winning any competitions, but at least you know how." He said. Before he could leave however, Kate hugged him. She felt him stiffen, then relax. He didn't return the gesture, but it was a start. Loki used to push her away, but now he tolerated the affection.
"Thanks." She murmured, then turned and left, disappearing into the crowd.
She weaved between groups, chatting occasionally. She found her way to Vision.
Hey. She said.
Hello. Do you enjoy moving to the music?
Dancing? No, but I like to listen and watch.
Ah.
They fell silent, as was common for them. Their conversations normally involved wordless exchanges; images, memories, emotion, and that odd complete understanding. Together, the watched in comfortable silence, until a young man, a very attractive young man, walked up to Kate and asked her to dance. Shocked for a moment, she didn't answer, just stared. He shifted a little uncertainly. That snapped Kate out of her reverie.
"Yes." She stammered. He took her hand and started for the dance floor.
Did you not just say you do not enjoy dancing? Vision asked.
I don't, but when someone asks, you say yes. It's polite and when you do it with someone else, it can be fun. She kept her eyes forward, but could picture Vis's face in her head. Tilted to the side, brow crinkled, and a look of puzzlement in his eyes. Every little emotional tick he had developed was slight and hard to catch, but after a while it was obvious.
Ah. I will ask Wanda then.
Kate chuckled softly. Go on, Vis.
"So, what's your name?" Kate asked, a little self-conscious of her feet again.
"Will. So, tell me about yourself. What's your name?" Will asked. He gave her a crooked, charming grin.
"Really? You don't know my name?" she tested, eyebrows raised. There was no way he didn't know.
His grin turned a little sheepish. "Well, I thought it was polite. So, Kate, what's your favorite color?"
"Yellow. Not like sunny yellow, but that golden orange yellow." She said as she flashed the hue across her face for him to see. His eyes widened briefly, but the smile didn't leave.
They talked the entire time. She learned that he had one older brother who worked as a politician, he was from New York, favorite color was red, and he loved the band Journey. He wasn't insulted that she didn't want to talk about her past. She was still processing everything herself.
The song ended, and they awkwardly said goodbye, Kate blushing and glancing around nervously.
"Thanks for dancing with me." He said, giving her that charming smile again.
Kate blushed harder. "Thanks for asking."
Will grinned at her one last time before being swallowed by the mass of bodies.
Kate beamed. She had not expected that! Will, an eye-catching young man, wanted to dance with her! Kate, the crazy mutant girl. Maybe Loki was right, best not let him know that though. He would never let her live it down.
The party continued well into the night. She danced with Tony, Steve, Sam, and even Thor. It was great, more so than she had expected. A few other dashing young agents had asked her as well. All in all, she'd hardly stopped moving.
Towards the end, she found herself back by Loki. He didn't say anything, but she got the feeling he was proud of her. No doubt he had seen her dance with some of the agents. He didn't ask her again, and that was alright by her. Kate's feet ached from all the dancing.
The last number the band played was 'The Star-Spangled Banner'. Every voice sang or murmured the words. Kate had never been prouder of her country. The meticulous little stars covering her started to fade, replaced by blossoms of red, white, and blue. Silent versions of the grand fireworks she had helped display.
When the song ended, the party goers wandered off the deck, worn-out, yet still grinning. Kate however, could not go back to her quarters yet. Fury had placed her on the cleanup crew; the cost of doing the show. So, that meant at least two hours of sweeping, gathering junk, and wiping down everything. A miserable ending to a brilliant night.
A yawn escaped her as she picked up a broom. When she looked up, a large, grateful grin spread on her face. Vis, Wanda, Sam, Tony, Bruce, Steve, Thor, Nat, and, surprisingly, Loki were all cleaning something or other.
They finished in a little over an hour and a half. All exhausted, they sat down against the wall of one of the buildings and finished the remains of the food, even Loki, whose face was shielded by that baseball cap he never took off. A bowl of chips, cookies, and what looked like watermelon, all mixed together, was passed around. It was music to her ears, hearing them share stories of past celebrations. Steve told one about how he and someone named Bucky put together a fireworks display when they were kids, almost sending a local drug store up in flames.
On the other hand, Kate was too tired to eat or join in. She closed her eyes and fell asleep under the stars, surrounded by her friends. No, her family.
The next morning, she awoke in her bed with no memory of how she got there. This fact didn't faze her at all though. It was time to start the day. In her haste to get ready, she didn't notice the baseball cap, lying in the corner.