The Avenger's Witch

Chapter 15: Party Time

By the next day, one of the tower's lower floors had been fully decorated. Lights hung from the ceiling in multiple places. Tables were set up for those that had been invited. There was blue backlighting and a stage set to the side for the press conference at the beginning. People were already walking around, trying to find their seats and make new connections.

"Alright, does everyone know what the plan is?" We had gathered in a room close to the ballroom for some last-minute adjustments. The guys were correcting each other's ties and blazers, Nat was using a small mirror to check her make-up and I was double-checking my dress.

"You look fine, Dove." Clint had walked up behind me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. Almost everyone had at least one nickname for me. Dove happened to be Clint's favorite. "If you weren't already mine, I'd steal you for myself."

I giggled softly and everyone else scoffed.

"Classy, Legolas. Real classy." Tony's nicknames for the others were by far the worst. "Are we all set?" Sounds of agreement came from everyone. We walked to where we would enter the ballroom and finally stepped in.

Cameras flashed everywhere, the press all trying to get the perfect picture for their stories. Our group walked in a line onto the stage; Steve in the front followed by Tony, Thor, Loki, Clint, Tasha, Bruce, and finally me. Bruce held onto my hand where the cameras couldn't see, filled with anxiety over anything to do with large groups of people. I gave his hand a light squeeze as Steve started the announcement.

"Good evening everyone and thank you for coming. We decided to have this party to clear some rumors and commemorate the new Avenger's Tower." There was some polite applause. "We will not be taking questions. Instead, this will be a formal address." A few disappointed huffs came from the reporters in front of them.

Steve's speech was quick. He stated how Loki was not at fault, that he was manipulated into doing it at the risk of his soulmate. There was no confirmation as to who that was since we didn't want too many to know the true relationship between us all. He brought up a few other things that had been floating around. He ended with one final line, "and to anyone or anything that might threaten others, know that we will come for you, and we will put a stop to you. Thank you all again for coming." He stepped away from the microphone as tower security came to make sure those not invited to stay, left.

I approached Steve first. "You did a good job."

He gave me a nervous smile. "You sure?"

Tony answered with a hand on his back, "Absolutely. Don't think any one of us could've done a better job."

Steve grinned at us both and gave us a thank you before walking away to join some WWII Vets that had been invited. Tony and I watched him walk away with a small smile.

"How are you doing, Babe?"  Tony asked once we were alone.

I looked over at him. "I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

He gave a look of silent disbelief. "Cause I've been keeping an eye on you. Or at least JARVIS has. You've been acting odd for the last week. You keep leaving meals early and sleeping by yourself more often than not." My shoes suddenly became really interesting. "Is everything alright? Is it that time of the month?"

I jabbed him with my finger at the bad joke. "No, I just wish my parents were still around to meet you guys."

Tony's eyes softened in sympathy. "I know the feeling. I think my old man would've been glad to see Cap again and my mom would have bombarded you with questions to make sure I was taking care of you."

I smiled sadly. "My parents would have been over the moon to meet those two for real." I pointed to Loki and Thor who were standing next to the friends Thor made the first time he was on Earth. "Even with my gifts, I don't think they ever would have believed they were real."