The Assassin & The Mercenary

Chapter 3

As Howard got onto the platform to be raised towards the stage, I took my place in the wings where I could see the show and the crowd, but not be seen by the latter. My eyes drifted over the crowd and I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of people that showed up. As my eyes finished their final sweep over the crowd they were caught on a certain set of blue ones that struck familiar. I looked to their left and could barely see a messy blonde head of hair. I looked to the right of the ocean blues and saw two girls. They were both practically hanging off the brunette's arm, although he looked preoccupied with the spectacle unraveling on the stage.

"Ladies, you know how hard it can be putting on makeup in a car that's bouncing like a kangaroo on a trampoline" Howard started off, drawing my attention back to him. Of course he was starting off with an appeal about makeup. I've seen him put eyeliner on more times than I care to count. I swear he has more makeup than me. Although he'll never admit to it. "What if I told you that in just a few short years, your automobile wouldn't touch the ground at all?"

This was the moment I've been working hard for. I've worked so hard for this and I'm hoping to whatever being there is out there, that the assistant didn't mess this shit up too bad for me. He pressed the button to power up the demonstration and the car started to hover above the ground.

"With Stark Gravitic Reversion Technology (patent pending), you'll be able to do just tha-" being cut off by one of the engines backfiring and the car slamming back into the ground. I groaned at the mishap. I knew I had a long road ahead of me to fix whatever the fuck the assistant messed up. "I did say a few years, didn't I?"

The crowd went up in cheers and too many 'I love you Howard's.

"I love you too ladies. I would just like to bring out my sister and give her the proper credit for being the lead on this project." I froze at that statement. I had no problem with crowds, I just wasn't expecting this. "Elizabeth, come on out!"

As I walked out on stage the crowd died down a lot. I mean, who would expect a woman to be the lead on a project like this. As I stopped next to Howard, I heard a vaguely familiar voice shout "LET'S HEAR IT FOR LIZZIE!" and that set the crowd off. I think they were louder for me than they were for Howard.

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The rest of the evening went off without a hitch. Howie presented some other projects and some concepts for upcoming projects. After a few presentations I started to walk around the Expo and explore some of my other projects that were on display. As I was looking at one of my favorite projects that I've worked on, I heard a throat clearing from over my left shoulder. I sighed and turned around, ready to punch someone if need be. To say I was surprised to see who it was would only be half of the truth, the other half I didn't want, nay, refused to believe.

"James, I'm surprised to see you here. Do you need help looking for something?"

"More like someone".

Me?

"Who are you looking for? I need something to do as of the moment so I'd be glad to help you search" I said with a plastered smile on my face.

He widened his eyes slightly and I realized that Steve was a little ways behind him looking lost "Oh. Um.... I was actually looking for" he held out the last word and looked around, almost considered to be searching for something. His eyes widened in remembrance. "Steve! I was looking for Steve. You've seen how small he is and its easy for him to get lost in crowds and he tends to run off someti-" he stops when he looks behind him towards the exact spot said Lost Boy was standing. "STEVE. There you are. I've been looking all over for you. Lizzie over here helped me find you".

I did?

"I did! It was nice to see you boys again. Good to see there's no purple visible on you Steve." To say I was confused in this moment would be both accurate and an understatement. "Look I've got to go. I need to meet up with Howard and evaluate the success of the Expo. I hope to see you both around again. See you James!"

"See you 'round Liz!" I heard James say. I turned around to leave and I caught Steve kicking James in the back of the ankle."Hey! What was that for?!"

"Your a dumbass you know that? You gotta ask her-"

The rest of the conversation trailed into nothing as I left the reach of their voices. I went straight home as I was tired and the evaluation of this year's expo wasn't technically until tomorrow. I told the boys that the meeting was tonight because the awkwardness I felt during that conversation was getting too much and I need an out. As I fell asleep there was only one thing corrupting my thoughts this time.