the strongest avenger (0.5)

two

The girl watches the humans interact with each other. Loud music filling the room along with the heat from all these bodies.

For some reason, Tony thought it smart to throw a party on this Saturday night. Natasha had practically begged the girl to go, even went out to buy her a dress. So, now she's stuck in a fitted, dark red t-shirt dress.

It's too tight for her comfort and too short, but she figured that she would throw the Widow a bone. She threw her hair up in a braid so it was out of her way and put on some flats that Natasha had bought as well.

The redhead attempted to put makeup on Talia, but she refused.

Talia turns back to her drink sitting on the bar top, swirling the straw in her Shirley Temple. The idea of going up to her room entices her, as she already grabbed a snack from the kitchen out of boredom and observed a few games of pool. She was now running out of things to do.

"Are you even old enough to drink?" Talia turns to find Steve staring down at her with a small smile.

She stares at him with a blank face.

"I'm just joking." He frowns slightly at her lack of emotion. "Just a joke. But seriously, why don't you come dance or something? Get some food?"

She shakes her head no, and turns back to looking at her drink, hearing Steve sigh.

"Okay, well, we're playing pool again if you want to join."

Talia just nods and continues to get lost in her thoughts.

Eventually, the party dies down. An old man drinks Thor's alcohol and has to be escorted out...majority of the people leave as well. Natasha makes her way behind the bar, providing Talia with another virgin drink.

Talia looks up as Bruce walks over to Nat.

"How'd a nice girl like you wind up working in a dump like this?" Talia inwardly cringes at his words.

"Fella done me wrong."

"You got lousy taste in men, kid."

"He's not so bad. Well, he has a temper," Natasha looks down at her drink real quick. "Deep down, he's all fluff. Fact is, he's not like anybody I've ever known. All my friends are fighters," she sighs and Talia looks away, feeling like she's spying. "And here comes this guy, spends his life avoiding the fight because he knows he'll win."

"Sounds amazing."

"He's also a huge dork. Chicks dig that." Talia finds herself resisting a smile at the redhead's words. "So what do you think? Should I fight this, or run with it?"

"Run with it, right? Or did he...was he...what did he do that was so wrong to you?" Talia shakes her head, disappointed in Bruce, but not surprised as he's socially awkward.

"Not a damn thing. But never say never."

Talia looks back over as Natasha leaves and Steve comes up to Bruce's side.

"It's nice." Steve starts.

"What is?"

"You and Romanoff."

"No, we haven't...that wasn't..."

"It's okay. Nobody's breaking any bylaws. It's just she's not the most open person in the world. But with you she seems very relaxed."

"No. Natasha, she's just...she likes to flirt."

Talia sighs and pushes up off the stool, going up to Bruce.

"She likes you." The girl watches Bruce's brows furrow before walking away towards the couches.

She settles down and grabs a nearby blanket, throwing it over her legs and choosing to observe the others in the room. Thor drinking with some of the others, another game of pool, Natasha talking with Maria.