Shadowbreath: The New Avenger

Chapter 25

Edit (02/02)

After about forty-five minutes of working the ballroom, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff made his way to the stage and picked up the microphone. The full orchestra playing classical music quieted down at his request, pulling the party's full attention up front.

Andrew Cooper was handsome in his dress uniform, adorned with an impressive array of medals pinned to his chest. He patted his shortly cropped hair before clearing his throat. "Good evening everyone, and welcome to the Tenth Annual Gala Military Ball, where we celebrate our brothers in arms and raise money for our veterans who have returned home after putting their lives on the line for this country."

A wild round of applause calmed down before he continued. "Please be sure to check out the silent auction laid out along the south wall tonight, which will close at twenty-three hundred. We will also have a live auction after we hear from our primary sponsor, Vice President Reed, and President Ellis. In the meantime, please take your seats for the magnificent dinner provided to us by the White House Staff."

Natasha applauded politely and looped her arm through Rhodes' again, lightly tapping her ear. "Report."

"I count a total number of five exits, four of which are guarded by Secret-Service looking assholes. I mean really, who wears sunglasses indoors? Also, I don't see Genovese anywhere." Scott complained from his vent.

"I can confirm that the fifth door leads to the kitchen and there are guards stationed here as well. All of them armed with standard issue military weapons." Vision cut in, blowing past Scott's remarks.

A few moments of silence before Natasha shared a look with Rhodes. "Scarlet Witch, Report."

She held her breath for another twenty seconds, heart beat suddenly skyrocketing.

"There's movement on the roof," Wanda whispered. "Ten men in fancy tuxedos just arrived, I don't think they know I'm here."

Natasha let out a string of curses inside her mind, clenching her jaw. "Stay covert, do not engage."

Rhodes tugged at her arm with a tight smile. "It's time to be seated for dinner, Nat."

She gave him a heart-breaking grin and laughed lightly. "Viz, if Wanda needs backup, move out immediately."

"Nothing would please me more, Agent Romanoff," came his reply.

Rhodes found their name cards on Table 2, which was reserved for the Nation's top military personnel, including the Chief of Naval Operations, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and the Chief of Staffs of the Army and Air Force. They all rose to shake Jim's hand and give a little bow to Natasha.

"Are they sure they seated us at the right table?" Rhodes joked with a grin, "I can't imagine what an Army Colonel has to offer to a group of stuffy Military Service Heads."

The small joke earned a chuckle from the men and their wives, and Byrd waved him off. "You know us Colonel, we begged for them to let the likes of you join us so we could hear more about the Avengers. Captain America might be a war criminal, but that doesn't stop any of us from delighting in his service record."

Dinner was served just as her team gave another report.

"Still no sign of Genovese." Scott confirmed, "Wanda?"

"Whatever they are doing up here, it's not looking for me." She whispered, causing the hairs on Natasha's arms to raise in alarm. "They are just kind of spread out in some sort of formation."

She joined in on the small talk with Rhodes, keeping up appearances that she was just there as his date. However polite she tried to come across as, the military heads' wives still seemed to avoid having a direct conversation with her. Natasha didn't mind, she was used to being given a wide berth due to her past, which was very clearly out in the open after the information dump with Pierce.