Captain's Hart and Soul

Chapter 3 Revels

April 9, 2015

The party was in full swing on the 91st floor of the Avengers Tower. Tony had music playing in the background all over the lounge area and he had also set up several pool tables in one corner for people to enjoy, which was turning out to be particularly popular with the veterans. Mostly though, the guests chatted about at various stations while the Avengers mingled, all of them enjoying Tony's open bar.

The whole team was there, all dressed in their best. At the start of the night, Arianna, Nat, and Rhodey relaxed on one of the couches, chatting casually, while Thor exchanged war stories with some old veterans on the couches across the room. Truth be told, it was a little strange to see the God dressed in anything but his Norse armour, or the ragged jeans and t-shirt he'd been wearing the first time Arianna had seen him, but there he was in a nice shirt, overcoat, and dark pants.

Clint and Doctor Cho were chatting by the indoor glass balcony, Clint in a smart shirt and dress pants while Doctor Cho was dressed prettily in a black evening dress. Steve and Sam were enjoying a game of pool with a group of other veterans, and from the sounds, it sounded like Steve was just beating Sam. Bruce was sitting uncomfortably with a group of people while Tony just walked about, checking on his guests while offering drinks to everyone.

As their game wrapped up, Steve finally managed to fill Sam in on what had happened in Sokovia. The pair had walked off by the time he finished, and Sam told him: "Sounds like a hell of a fight, sorry I missed it."

They started up the stairs towards the upper indoor-balcony sitting area, and Steve replied a little teasingly: "If I had known it was going to be a firefight I absolutely would have called you."

"No, I'm not actually sorry." Sam retorted. Steve smiled as Sam said lightly: "I'm just trying to sound tough. I'm very happy chasing cold leads on our missing persons case."

He gave Steve a wry smile, which the super-soldier returned.

Sam added as they walked over to the railings facing the party: "Avenging is your world. Your world is crazy."

The pair leaned on the railings as Steve said a little dryly: "Be it ever so humble."

They looked out into the party, and Steve smiled a little as he spotted Arianna laughing with Tony and some other people he didn't know. Probably some of Tony's guests, judging by their limited edition clothes and expensive jewelry.

"You find a place in Brooklyn yet?" Sam asked curiously, knowing that was where Steve really wanted to go back to.

Steve pointed out as he turned to his friend: "I don't think I can afford a place in Brooklyn."

Sam shrugged and he nodded down at Arianna as he asked with a small smile: "Not even if you split the cost with your girlfriend?"

Steve glanced back at Arianna as he answered slowly: "I'm not sure if she'd want to. Despite it all, she loves her job and especially since her friends are all here now."

He nodded at Tony, just as the man burst out laughing and threw his expensive black suit-clad arm around Arianna, who laughed with him. Sam shrugged as he replied rhetorically: "Well, home is home, you know?"

That made Steve pause, and he glanced at Sam before he turned back to look down at Arianna, his face becoming a little pensive.

*********

About halfway through the night, Clint joined Nat and Arianna, while Rhodey walked off to the bar area. Maria, Tony, and Thor were already there, and the four chatted and joked for a while. Steve joined them, while Sam walked off to chat with Nat and Arianna, just as Rhodey was finishing off his joke.