Tigress ➳ An Avengers Fanfic (Book 1 of the Scepter Chronicles)

12

        "Caly, focus," Nat said, circling me in the center of the ring. 

        Adjusting my stance, I let her punch towards me and tried to dodge out of the way. I landed on my butt. 

        Nat snorted, offering me a hand. "I didn't even touch you that time," she said, and I laughed breathlessly, tucking stray hairs behind my ears. 

        We had been practicing hand-to-hand combat for the last couple hours, and while I was drenched in sweat, Nat wasn't even breathing heavily. 

        The door slammed open, causing Nat, Steve, and I to all jump. Tony, Bruce, and Thor entered the room. 

        "We're going out!" Tony announced. 

        "Calypso!" Thor yelled. "Congratulations!" 

        I laughed. "Thanks!" I yelled back. 

        "We are celebrating tonight," Tony said, entering the ring. He wrinkled his nose. "You really need to shower," he said to me, and I opened my arms as if to give him a hug and ran towards him. 

        He jumped back out of the ring, and I laughed with Nat. 

        He flung his arm at the door. "Go now," he said, and I pouted. "Don't make me force you," he threatened, and I hightailed it out of the room, followed by his laugh. 

        "Wear something nice!" he called after me. 

        I wandered the halls until I found my room, humming to myself. I pushed open the door, pulling my boots off and tossing them on the floor. I pulled my hair out of its ponytail and tossed my sweaty clothes in a basket. I entered the shower, turning the water hot. I sang as I scrubbed at my hair and skin with lavender-scented soap, dirt spiraling down the drain. When I was finished, I shut the water off and wrapped myself in a fluffy white towel.

        I walked into my room and stared at my closet. I didn't know what to wear. Sighing, I began flicking through my clothes. Something caught my eye. I pulled it out, running my fingers over the material, and grinned. I changed quickly, finding the perfect shoes and a necklace to pair it with. When I was finished, I walked to the mirror. 

        I was wearing a tight, black long sleeve top with a black floral skirt. A pair of black lace up booties adorned my feet, and a gold feather necklace hung from my neck. Satisfied with my appearance, I went to the bathroom and dried my hair. I quickly braided a headband into my hair and curled the rest. 

        A knock at my door startled me. "Caly, are you ready?" Steve's voice said. 

        "Yes, I'm coming," I told him. I gave myself one last glance and ran to the door. I swung it open, revealing Steve. He was dressed in a white button down shirt and black pants. His hair looked like he had been running his hand thought it, making his blue eyes appear brighter. 

        He smiled when he saw me. "You look beautiful," he commented, and I blushed. 

        "You look handsome," I told him, and he grinned and offered me his arm. Always such a gentleman. I took it, and he lead me down the corridor and into a quinjet where the others were waiting. 

        The men were dressed similarly to Steve, and Thor had even combed his hair back. Nat was in a form-fitting black dress that contrasted with her hair, looking stunning as ever. 

        "Hey," she said, patting the seat next to her, and I smiled and sat down. We talked together as the quinjet took off smoothly. Soon, it was landing just outside a big city.