Shadow of a Villain

Nat twisted my hair up and clipped it out of the way as she picked up the straighteners. My room was a mess, every surface cluttered with make-up and accessories.

Tony had planned a big party for no particular reason, so we were all getting ready. The scent of heated ceramic and hair oils filled the air as Nat moved the straighteners through the layers of my hair.

"Do you think he'll ever decide to settle down and live a quiet life?" I asked, unable to keep the curiosity from my voice.

Nat snorted, her green eyes flicking toward me in the mirror. "You mean the man who went against the advice of Shield to come out to the world as a superhero?"

"Fair point." I laughed, watching her movements in the mirror. Nat chuckled, a wry smile playing on her lips as she finished the last section. She set the straighteners down and began sweeping my hair up elegantly before she grabbed a can of hairspray, misting it over my now sleek strands. The majority of it was twisted and pulled into an intricate bun, while several locks were left lose either side of my face.

My eyes flicked to my dress hanging by the window, the silky-fabric shimmering with every gentle movement. The sun dipped behind it, painting the sky an incredible blend of pink and orange.

"Your dress is going to look stunning against this sunset." Nat commented, her gaze following mine towards the breathtaking view outside the window.

I smiled gratefully. “Thanks Nat.”

“There! All done.”

“You’re a lifesaver!”

She grinned at me, her viridescent eyes sparkling and a smug look on her face. “I know." Nat looked back at the mirror, winking at me before she turned to leave. “I need to go get myself ready now.” She added. “See you in there!"

She closed my bedroom door behind her and I could hear the click of her heels as she walked down the hall. I sighed and rubbed my temples; the thought of having to be sociable for the next few hours was daunting. Getting up from the stool of my dressing table, I padded barefoot across the carpet to my dress, taking it off the hanger gently and heading in to my main bedroom.

No point in stalling.

After I was dressed, a knock on the door startled me out of my thoughts. “Can I come in?”

“Of course Peter, it’s open.”

“Wow you look so pretty!”

I smiled at him and did a twirl. “As do you, I love your suit.”

Peter stood up straight and smiled proudly. “You ready to go?”

I quickly slipped my shoes on and grabbed his arm. “Ready as I’ll ever be!”

Peter chuckled as we headed down the corridor. “For someone who makes friends so easily, you sure hate people.”

“In fairness, people are awful.”

Peter laughed again.

“Is MJ coming tonight?”

“She’s already in there. She heard there was food.” He shrugged and I laughed. MJ's insatiable appetite was legendary among us, despite her petite figure.

We walked together in silence as we began to hear the noise of a party in full swing. “Thanks for walking in with me.” I said quietly.

Peter smiled and gripped my arm a little tighter as we rounded the corner to the largest room in the building.

It was the same room with the landing pad on the top floor of the tower. A large bar sat on the left side of the room, its sleek surface polished to a shine. Floors at different levels took up the rest of the space, providing a dynamic landscape for the gathering. Usually, this space would be empty and quiet, but tonight it was full to bursting. People hung around together chatting and laughing animatedly as music played in the background, the lively beat invigorating.

As we entered, I felt several pairs of eyes on us, their gazes burning into my skin. I fought to keep my expression neutral, even though a part of me wanted to shy away from the attention.

"Quite the party, huh?" Peter remarked, the corners of his eyes crinkling with delight. His hair bounced slightly with each step we walked further into the room. “I’m going to go find MJ, you okay?”

Before I could answer, Thor bellowed my name from across the room.

“Amelie! Over here!”