The Party Begins
Sylvie took a deep breath and opened the door to the hall.
“Don’t. Even. Start—”
Natasha grinned, motioned zipping her lips and winked at her friend.
“Don’t worry, I won’t embarrass you in front of lover boy, ready to go?”
“Good evening Natasha,” Loki grinned smugly as he walked up to stand beside Sylvie, resting his hand on the small of her back.
Natasha leveled him with an appraising glance which seem to see straight through him.
“Hey, I like the blue.”
“Thank you, I thought I might try something different—though I confess it does feel a bit strange.”
“Well I think people will appreciate seeing another side of you,” Sylvie said kindly and slid her arm around his back.
“Thank you Sylvie,” he said with a tender look of affection.
Natasha cleared her throat with an amused smirk getting Loki’s attention.
“Oh, and I believe…” he reached into his pocket to pull out the small velvet box, “you requested earrings?”
Natasha grinned, “Thank you, though I admit I was only half serious.”
Sylvie rolled her eyes in disbelief and smirked as Natasha opened the box.
“Bozhe moi…” she murmured as her eyes lit up.
“I think she likes them,” Sylvie grinned.
“I recall Tsarina Alexandra wore a similar pair when I met her,” Loki said with a smile.
Natasha’s eyes went wide as she looked up at him in apparent shock.
“I—Uh, thank you, Loki,” she murmured in awe and put the gold pearl earrings on with hasty fumbling fingers.
Sylvie looked up at Loki feeling a swell of affection at how happy he had made Natasha with his thoughtful gift. He looked back at her with a soft smile.
Natasha had become such a wonderful friend to Sylvie, and Loki wanted to give her something meaningful to convey the gratitude he felt.
“Okay,” Natasha cleared her throat feeling a little overwhelmed, “we should probably head out, I called for a car and they should be out front any minute.”
Loki nodded and waited gallantly to follow Sylvie and Natasha down to the car.
On the rooftop of the Metropolitan Museum the party at the Cantor Roof Garden Bar was just beginning. The Stark family arrived, Tony following his wife outside carrying their daughter on his hip.
“Not too bad, pretty good for an afternoon’s notice,” Tony said proudly as he looked around.
“Daddy I wan’ play in the gwass,” Morgan looked at Tony with a pout.
“Okay little mogwai, run free—just stay out of the fountain and no snacks without talking to mommy first, yeah?”
The little girl nodded as he set her down before running off to play on the grass.
“Well, good thing I put her in dark leggings—I’d rather not have to throw out another pair because of grass stains, Tony.”
Pepper shook her head despite smiling warmly as Tony put his arms around her waist.
“Oh come on, just forget about grass stains and juice spills for the night Pep, I’ll go get us a couple drinks,” he kissed her cheek quickly and headed off to the bar.
“Hey Pepper,” Rhodey walked over to her with a smile.
“Hi Rhodey, I’m so happy to see you,” she touched his arm and smiled.
“Yeah, been a while since you two flew the coop—how ya been?”
“Good, great. Morgan is more than I ever could’ve asked for,” she glanced over to where the little girl was trying to do a cart wheel, “for all of Tony’s accomplishments, I think being her dad is probably what he’s most proud of.”
“Ah well we know that’s really thanks to you,” Rhodey grinned.
Pepper laughed and made a considering face for a moment, “Not just me. He’s really put in the work.”
“Good. Cause I don’t think anything would kill him more than letting the two of you down.”
“Well look who we have here,” a hand appeared on both Pepper and Rhodey’s shoulders as Maria Hill appeared from behind them.
“Hill, oh my God,” Rhodey turned and pulled her into a hug, “I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed having a sane person running intelligence—”
Maria laughed and beamed at him as he let her go. “It’s good to be back, it still feels like some big hoax whenever I see the date on TV or in a newspaper.”
“I can’t even imagine,” Pepper said sympathetically as she hugged her warmly.
“Alright, alright, that’s all the love I can take without a drink, which one of you knows the way to the bar?”
“I only got here a couple minutes before you,” Rhodey said as he glanced around.
“Oh, well Tony said he was getting us drinks—he headed off in that direction,” Pepper indicated where he had disappeared to before her friends had arrived.
“Come on Hill, let’s find the bar—Pep you wanna join?”
“No I think I’ll stay and keep an eye on Morgan, but send my husband back if you see him.”
“Will do,” Maria smiled and took Rhodey’s proffered arm.
The two headed off in search of libations, milling through various friends and contacts of The Avengers and Stark Industries. As they rounded the corner the bar came into view.
On the way over Maria pointed to where Tony seemed to have gotten sidetracked talking to Bruce and Thor after collecting drinks for himself and his wife.
Rhodey cupped his hands around his mouth and called out to Tony who spun on his heel, nearly spilling the drinks. His eyebrows raised and he muttered something to the two Avengers before sauntering over casually.
“Rhodey! You’re looking uncharacteristically chipper this evening. And Hill! Glad to see you made it back in one piece, where’s Fury, he hiding out somewhere around here in the shadows?”
Maria shook her head softly, amused by Tony’s dramatics.
“Couldn’t make it, sends his best.”
Tony scoffed, “Figures—”
“—he’s a bit busy, what with you know not existing and all, but he sent me in his place.”
“The lengths that man won’t go to in order to miss one of my parties.”
Maria rolled her eyes and Rhodey laughed over the top of his beer.
“Yeah well your poor wife is dying of thirst back there while you’re over here chatting it up, so you better get a move on.”
“My goodness, The Blip sure didn’t soften your edges, no offense intended—you know me, I love a lady boss.”
“Then do as the lady said, man,” Rhodey laughed and Tony straightened his back and clicked his heels in a military fashion.
“Sir, yes sir, Mr Admiral Rhodey, sir!”
The billionaire scurried away after an annoyed tut from his friend who just shook his head.
“Money does bad things to people,” Rhodey said feigning solemn reproach.
“No arguments here, now come on, that bar’s got a Manhattan with my name on it.”