From Present to Past - The Tigris Series Book 3

Chapter Five

May 1st, 2015

"Don't tell me you're getting cold feet now." Tony groaned, waiting by the door that lead to the party that had already started.

37 minutes ago, to be exact.

I scoffed, shaking my head as I looked away from him with crossed arms. "I'm not getting cold feet, I just-" I paused, searching for the right words through my racing mind. "There's a lot going on down there, and I need a minute."

"Your minute was the last three days. Come on, Wednesday Addams. There's a whole band of World War II veterans down there that have been dying to see their favorite war damsel. They've got a few drinks in them so I think they'll be thoroughly impressed." he teased, eyeing me up at down with a raised, quirky brow.

I rolled my eyes, giving him the look I always gave him that silently screamed 'I've had it with your shit.' So far, I've been giving him the look on the daily since we got back from Sokovia; so needless to say, he's become desensitized.

He only chuckled, waving me over once again as he turned to walk through the door with a more sincere and reassuring tone. "Come on. You're gonna be fine."

I let out a deep, heavy sigh, watching him go as I stayed where I was at a distance, my hands tightening on my arms as I hugged them closer to me with a clenched jaw. To say my anxiety was spiking would be an understatement. I could hear and smell the amount of people that were through those doors and down the stairs, with their boastful laughter and voices that blended together, reminding me of static noise. The addition of the loud music and the clinking of glasses filled with multiple different types of liquors and beverages didn't help with the overwhelming noise and scents. It was times like these where I wish I had some sort of off switch to my senses.

With a deep, shaky breath, I forced myself to walk towards the dreaded door, telling myself repeatedly in my head that everything was gonna be fine, and that I could get through this. Whether it was true or not, I couldn't focus on. All logic and "what if" scenarios needed to be thrown out the window for this.

I opened the door, regretting it instantly as the wave of pure static noise and the strong scent of alcohol hit my senses. My nostrils flared as I held back a flinch, and forced my feet to take me down the stairs, putting on a stoic expression to hide every uncomfortable sensation coursing through my mind and body. Nobody in that room needed to know how irrationally terrified I was of them.

My eyes scanned the room of every detail, taking in where every person was, identifying each face that I did and did not know, as well as the location of each small activity, the bar, and each potential exit. Multiple people paused their conversation the second they saw me descending the stairs, their expressions an even mix of awe and fear.

I locked eyes with Thor for only a moment, who was sat amongst a few of the old World War II veterans that Stark had mentioned in white luxury chairs with their glasses of beer, of which smelled like Miller Lite. He wore a deep maroon suit with his long blond hair pulled back, letting a few shorter strands frame his face. He seemed to be far too busy telling his dramatic tales of one of his many battles fought throughout the centuries to pay any attention to me, which I was thankful for. Banner was walking around, aimlessly with his hands in his pockets, looking almost as uncomfortable as I felt. He wore a suit and tie, his brown curls tamed a little with his glasses completing his look. His eyes met mine for an even shorter amount of time, nervously, before turning away again as if he was silently telling me 'you're on your own.' Natasha and Rhodey sat somewhere else in the room, seemingly having a pleasant conversation amongst themselves. They didn't notice me yet, and neither did Barton, who was somewhere else in the party, speaking with someone I did not recognize right away upon first glance.