Ice Princess

3

"Problem? Why?" Then Bruce picked up the invitation and realized what she was talking about. "Oh."

"I've been keeping to myself, a lot. The only people I talk to is Love, everyone else is just to get the job done. I've gotten other invites for happy hour, parties, etc. Made excuses...." She began.

"So, make another excuse." Bruce offered.

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because they notice I do and it's Sergeant Barnes. If I don't go, then he's going to know something is up and he is going to dig."

"We both know we can't afford that."

"So what do you want to do? All the psychological profiles I can do on a person isn't going to mean anything in this case." She rubbed her face.

"Ok, I'll contact Fury to get permission. Remember, if he says no..."

"Bruce, it's ok. I know no means no. In fact, I am hoping it is no and that Sergeant Barnes lets it drop."

"Honestly, Mina, Fury is probably going to say yes because Bucky is not going to let it drop. What exactly did he say to you?"

"That I look miserable and I don't do any of the social events that I get invited to, not that I'm a social butterfly to begin with but..."

"That's the problem, he's notice it."

"Exactly."

"Ok, we got this. Fury is definitely going to say yes now." She cradled her head in her hands at his response. Now she needed to find a dress and shoes, etc.

________

The plan was go, be seen, and leave early. The dress she had picked out was black tie appropriate, but barely. Not slutty, but not too showy either. Understated. It was hard to get the sales person to shop with her for a dress that was and was not appropriate. Something that said 'look at me, but don't' at the same time. One final primp in the mirror before she went. Even the black, large rimmed glasses weren't going to help with this. She shook her head, like they would help. Not that she was a bombshell or drop dead gorgeous, but she thought she was pretty in her own right. At least pretty enough for someone to have .... She shook that thought from her head. Just remember to avoid cameras was all the advice she was given from Fury and Bruce. Thanks, guys. While she didn't expect to be there long enough to drink, she did order a car to make it easier to escape later just in case she did have one drink. Mina didn't want to wait around for it to wear off if she had to make a sudden exit.

When arriving, there was a red carpet and photographers. Quietly, she attached herself to a group of people and hid behind them as the flashbulbs went off. Mina's clutch also was helpful in shielding her face. Even in heels her little feet didn't many any noise as she climbed the stairs inside the event. Gratitude washed over her as there was no photography left inside. Be the wallflower, she said to herself. Be as uninteresting as possible, blend in, yet it was quite hard when some of the conversations were so interesting. Sparkling water with a lime twist, it would look like she was drinking when she wasn't as she made her lap around the large event. Working on her second, she did another round a half hour later. As soon as she finished the drink, she was just about to put it down when...

"I'm glad you made it." Bucky said as she could feel his eyes on the back of her neck. He had a boyish grin on his face and stuffed his hands in his pockets ruining the beautiful lines of his suit, such a crime. "Now you know they aren't so bad so you can come to more."

"I have to say, all this is a little overwhelming." She started to walk away, now that he saw her she could leave.

"Going so soon, but you just got here. Stay a while." He took her hand and hooked it into the crook of his elbow. It was really quite charming.

"I really should be going, I have an experiment running and I need to check on it early in the morning." As she started to pull away.

"One drink, please?"

"No, I really do have..."

"Promise, one drink and I will leave you alone." She looked around and could already see that Bruce was shaking his head no. "Live a little. We could talk." Well it would be nice to have a conversation with someone, she thought.

"One drink, that's all?"

"Yes."

"Fine." She relented. This was going to be the worst mistake of her life, she thought.

"Great." He seemed too happy for this. There were far better looking women around her. God, she was hoping he didn't thing she was easy. "What's your poison?" He said as they came up to the bar.

"Macallan, neat." He cocked his head regarding her response.

"I figured you as one of those frilly fru fru drink kinds of girls."

"Really, why?" She eyed him as she sipped her drink, swallowing it no problem. A look of curious disbelief washed over him as she finished it sitting the empty glass on the bar. "What? I like quality."

"You don't seem like the person that would ...."

"Be able to afford a whiskey of that quality?"

"No, just that ..."

"Oh, you think I'm too small to hold my liquor?"

"Well, yeah." She did feel a bit looser, but not drunk.

"I'm not an alcoholic, but I can hold my liquor. That will probably be it for me. I much rather it be good than not. And I'm not driving."

"Good, then you won't mind this." As he twirled her away from the bar to the dance floor. Fury was going to kill her. He was probably here right now and she was expecting a visit when she got home.

Mina weighed nothing in his arms and followed him gracefully around the dance floor. She tried her best to stifle a smile, but couldn't.

"Uh oh, seems like dad is mad." Bucky whispered to her. "You two aren't dating are you?"

"What? Wait? What? Dr. Banner? No."

"Good, you're not old enough for him?"

"But I am for you?"

"Let's change the subject. So how are you an analyst and a scientist working for Bruce?" God, won't this song end, she thought.

"Jack of all trades..."

"But you seem more than masterful at what you do." She blushed at the compliment. It must be the drink. Finally, Bruce came over to rescue her.

"Dr. Banner, nice to see you here." She said.

"Mina, you really should be going you have those early results to check tomorrow morning." Bruce told her.

"Yes, sir." She said gathering up her skirts and walking away, grateful for the assist.

"Bruce, I'm sorry, if I had known you two were dating, I wouldn't have." Bucky began.

"We aren't dating, but she does have important work to do for me." It was the first time Bruce had ever flexed his alpha male muscles.

Hurrying out and down the stairs, her car came up and she slid relieved into the back seat. But wasn't alone. Fury was there.