Red, White and Black

The Reason

The wedding planning was done relatively quickly considering everything. So by the time the Saturday after Thanksgiving came along, I was standing in the bridal suite staring at the dress I would be putting on in less than an hour. There were nerves fluttering in my stomach despite the fact I wanted to do this.

"Angel."
Turning towards the door, where Tony was standing, I smiled weakly, "Tony."
He strolled into the room, hands in the pockets of his suit as he looked around at all the absolute forest of flowers in the room, "What'd they do? Rob a flower store?"
"I don't know, perhaps. Was there something you needed?"
He moved over to me, eyeing the short robe I was wearing as he asked, "Are you wearing anything under that?"
"Underwear...why?"
"Good enough, come here. I've got something for you." Tony pulled a box out of his pocket.
I moved over as I said, "Oh, Tony, you didn't need to get me a gift, you've already given me so much with this wedding and all..."
"Hush," he pulled the top of the box off and pulled out the necklace. The chain was a shiny black color with an oval shaped pendant of glittering blue. He tossed the box on the nearest table and held it up to me, "I hear that on the wedding day there is this whole tradition of 'something new, something old, something borrowed, something blue'."
I poked a finger at the necklace as he held it up and gestured for me to turn lean forward so he could put it on, "So, I got you something new and something blue."
"Tony, it's beautiful, but I don't really wear necklaces. They aren't good if you get into a fight."
"It's not just a necklace." Tony said as he stepped back.
"What is it then?"
He smirked, "Some of my finest work if I do say so myself. Tap the oval twice."
I eyed him suspiciously for a moment but did as he asked. Immediately, I watched a flow of blue and black spread out from the point of the necklace, covering me from head to toes. I blinked as a readout flickered to life in front of my eyes and I heard Friday greeting me.
Turning around towards the mirrors in the corner of the room, I was able to take the whole thing in. It was a suit. Blue with trimmings of black. There were even protective parts covering the "forearm" of my wings.
"Tony?"
"It's made of nanotech, the necklace just holds the nanites. It will activate either when you tap it like I just told you to, if it detects that you are in distress or danger, or if someone who isn't programmed into it tries to touch it."
I turned from side to side to catch as many angles of the thing as possible, "I didn't know you were even working on something like this."
"I might have stolen the idea from the resident science geek in Wakanda, incorporated it into the Mark 50. I made yours mostly about protection though it has several offensive capabilities. And when you aren't needing the suit, it can be a pretty fashion statement."
I spread my wings out, testing to see how the armor felt. I could feel it, but it wasn't the least bit restrictive. Carefully, I tucked my wings back and asked, "How do I make it go away?"
"You can say close program, or you can tap the same spot and it will retreat."
Wanda came bustling into the room, eyeing me in the suit, "What is that? You can't get married in that. Take it off."
I grinned and tapped against the oval shape in the suit, watching in fascination as it retreated back and in moments it looked like I was just wearing a pretty necklace.
"Are you wearing that too?" Wanda asked as she moved over to the dress.
"Yes. It's my something blue and my something new."
"I don't know what that means, but let's put the final touches on your hair and makeup and get you in the dress."
She gave Tony a look and he held his hands up and said, "I get the hint, I'll go."
But before he could move away, I threw my arms around him and hugged him tight. He patted my back and pressed a quick kiss to my temple before he said, "I'll see you at the door. Enough mushy stuff now."

***
***

Steve and Bucky turned when the doors to the room they were in opened and Nat strode in. She had a look of such intensity on her face, Steve was immediately concerned.
"What's wrong?" He asked as she stopped in front of them.
"I need something old for Angel."
Steve and Bucky just looked at her confused as Sam said from where he was lounging, "I mean, don't they count as something old? They are both like over a hundred."
Nat rolled her eyes at the man and then shook her head, finger pointing at the pair, "Give me your dog tags."
"What? Why?"
She made a noise of annoyance in her throat as she rolled her eyes, "Just hand them over, you'll get them back after the ceremony."
They just looked at each other before they both pulled them off and dropped them into Nat's waiting hands. Then she was back out of the room and Bucky asked, "So, is someone gonna explain?"
Sam's legs stretched out, "It's this traditional thing. 'Something old, something new, blah blah', I don't know the whole thing. It's supposed to be good luck or whatever.
As Nat made her way back to the room Angel was in she passed Tony in the hall, "You speak to Angel yet?
Tony nodded, "Yeah, had to give her something. Now, I'm off to threaten me some super soldiers."
Nat laughed as Tony headed towards the grooms and she pushed into the bridal suite. She was currently standing in the middle of the room as Wanda laced up the back. A-line, white satin, with a full train and off the shoulder sleeves. It was stunning in its simplicity. Much like the woman herself.
"Where's your bouquet?" Nat asked.
Angel's head tilted towards one of the many tables and Nat's eyes found it, "What are you doing?"
Nat picked it up and started to attach Steve and Bucky's dog tags to it a s she explained, "You needed the something old and borrowed yet. So, I got the boys' dog tags."
"Did you see the new and blue that Tony gave her?" Wanda asked as she finished with the last of the laces.
"No." Nat moved over and examined the necklace lying just below the hollow of her throat, "It's pretty. But he knows you don't wear necklaces right?"
"Yeah, but it holds a suit," Angel said, her tone awed excitement.
"Really? How?"
"Nanotechnology. You wanna see it?" Angel asked, raising her hand to it. Wanda made a tutting sound, fingers tapping against her hand
"Tch, no. She can see it later, you have more important things to do right now."
Angel giggled nervously, her hands smoothing down the skirt of her dress as Wanda circled carefully around her to make sure everything was in place and ready to go.
"You're perfect. I need to go get to the front now, see you in a few minutes." Wanda said as she gave Angel a hard hug and a kiss on the cheek. Nat held out the bouquet to her and Angel took it, inspecting the dog tags that she had affixed around it with a smile.
"Alright, I need to go get my seat, you've got ten minutes before the ceremony starts," Nat said as she gave Angel her own hug and kiss. Angel nodded before turning towards the mirror as Nat moved out of the room.
As the door shut behind the former spy, Loki stepped out of a swirl of his magic. He let his eyes travel over Angel for a moment before he smiled and stepped forward. He could practically smell the nerves coming off her and he knew one way to help.
Leaning casually against the wall, he said, "You still have time."
Angel turned around to face him, her eyebrows wrinkling, "Time for what?"
Loki glanced up at the clock and then grinned at her, "To run away with me of course."
"Pft. Please. Don't be ridiculous Loki. I love you but gods not like that."
He stepped forward, placing a light kiss on her cheek, "I know you don't, darling, but I bet your nerves are gone now?"
Angel hummed as she took a slow deep breath, "Yeah, I guess they are. And now it's time."
She picked up her flowers and Loki held the door open for her so that she could head to where Tony was waiting to walk her down to the two men she was marrying today.