Invisible To You (A Bruce Banner Love Story)

Chapter Ten - Opening Night

        Today was the day I was re-opening the bar. And there was way too much left to do. I had been running around the bar all day, slowly being joined by my few employees and bad news.

        "What do you mean the twins have the flu?!" I ask, pinching the bridge of my nose in frustration. Lou looks up at me apologetically. Lou was one of my two other bartenders.

        "They just texted me. Apparently it is really, really bad." She says. "Like, Carrie told me that they both her and Terri had been throwing up all morning. There is no way they can make it tonight."

        "This is just..... perfect." I mutter. "Nick is out sick too. So that just leaves me, you, Ian, and Ryan." Ryan was a waiter along with Terri, Carrie was my sub bartender, who switched out with Lou, and Ian was, well, the Muscle. He was our bouncer with Nick. Nick looked scrawny, but man could he pack a punch. Ian was there to scare people, because in reality, he was a big teddy bear. Nick was the one you should be scared of.

        "There is no way we can have opening night with just the four of us." Ryan pipes up. He was out and about finishing getting tables ready. "You know the place is going to be flooded."

        "Should we push back opening?" Ian asks, carrying a stack of chairs around.

        "We can't!" I exclaim. "It's too late for that. We just need help." I say. I sigh, and fish my phone out of my apron. "That's it. I'm calling backup." Lou groans.

        "Great." She mutters, and I flash her a smile.

        "Hey Tony?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

        "Good. You brought the whole team." I say, glancing up as I hear the door open. "We need the help. Lou, attention." I snap my fingers in front of her shocked face. "You might want to close your mouth. Flies are not good for business. Besides, it's just Tony. You've met him a thousand times."

        "That's the Avengers." Ryan says in a disbelieving voice.

        "No, it's the Justice League. " I say sarcastically. "Of course it's the Avengers. Now mop." I say. Ryan just stands there, and Ian bumps into him coming out of the back room.

        "Ryan, move your-" He looks up. "Holy crap it's Black Widow." He says. "Oh my gosh. Could you teach me some of your moves? Ma'am, you are like my idol. If I could fight like you..." Everyone turns and stares at him, and all six feet seven inches of him turns red with embarrassment, making me burst out laughing.

        "Okay, I feel like I should introduce you guys before Ian makes an even bigger fool of himself." I say. "This is Ian, the bouncer slash muscle slash giant teddy bear. Ryan, my waiter slash breakfast pastry dealer." Weird looks. "Okay, that will be explained. And Lou, my bartender friend of awesomeness." She pulled the rock out sign with her hand. "Guys, these are the Avengers."

        Cue awkward eye contact and waving. "Now, we only have one hour until opening. Tony, behind the bar with me and Lou. Steve, you are going to be going back and forth for more alcohol, etc. Clint, waiter. Nat, you help Ian be a bouncer. He's only there for looks. Normally Nick is here to actually beat people up. Ian just breaks up fights. Bruce, with me." Tony lets out a wolf whistle, and I glare at him. "Tony so help me if you do not get behind that bar in five seconds and shut up I am going to stick your head so far up your butt you are going to see what you ate for breakfast this morning."

        Tony is frozen for a split second, before sprinting over to the bar, shielding himself behind Lou. everyone else is laughing. "How is that funny?" I ask, making Lou, Ian, Ryan, and Tony freeze. "That was not funny. I was completely serious. now, all of you GET TO YOUR POSTS." I roar.