Chapter 42
"Are you a dancer?"
Michelle turned in surprise and raised an eyebrow when she saw Peter standing nervously behind her. She looked a little lost as he reached out and winked at her.
"Um, I'm not, and-" She wanted to speak out of it and pointed to her camera with her free hand, but Peter carefully took it from her hand and laid it on the table. Then he took her hand, intertwined her fingers, and before she could protest, he was already dragging her to the others on the floor.
"That's good, because I'm not good at dancing either, but this is a slow dance and we probably won't get another opportunity to dance anyway," he blurted out, as he was really nervous. Dancing with Michelle was a premiere for him, and so he was a little afraid of it, after all, almost like all the things one did for the first time in one's life. But all he had to do was look at her and his courage began to return slowly, she was so beautiful, and besides, she looked as uncertain as he did.
"I'm not even wearing a dress," she said quietly as he gently placed his palms on her waist and pulled her close.
"It doesn't matter," he whispered as quietly as if he feared he might be too loud to disturb the calm and light atmosphere that prevailed here. MJ didn't seem to come up with another argument why they shouldn't dance, so she just sighed and she wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing them even closer. "You're beautiful," Peter told her, and as they swayed to the beat of the slow music, he looked deep into her chocolate brown eyes. She smiled at him. "Really. Don't question it," he warned her. "Although I'd like to see you in a dress, this... this is perfect. This is you. And I love you," he told her quietly and a little shyly because these two words were not often said. "With everything. The way you are."
"You're crazy, Peter," Michelle breathed, closing her eyes as he leaned over and leaned his forehead against her. Neither of them knew the other couples were dancing around them. As if they were alone, just the two of them, trapped in the endless loop of this perfect moment. Michelle herself was surprised when she realized that - but she hadn't felt so good in a long time. And only thanks to Peter and his family. "Peter, I..." she began cautiously, not wanting to ruin this moment. But she felt safe. She was in his arms. And a kind of openness awoke in her. "Sometimes I'm afraid I just won't be enough for you," she admitted him. "And I'm so sorry because I'd love to. But I'm afraid that... that I'll mess something up or rush it and then... then I'll create a block in myself and... and I won't be able to—"
"Michelle," he said softly, then stroked her cheek with his knuckles. "You don't have to hurry. You don't have to push yourself. I'm so glad you told me. That you're talking to me about how you feel. But if you think... that you owe me something or something like that... you don't. Because this," he smiled at her, "this is perfect."
•••
"Did I tell you today that you look stunning, Mrs. Stark?" Tony muttered in Pepper's ear as they pressed together and just swayed gently to the beat of the music. He had one hand on her exposed back and the other in her palm, Pepper rested her head on his shoulder and watched with a smile as their fingers intertwined and a beautiful wedding ring shone on her left ring finger.
"I think you already mentioned it, Mr. Stark," she replied, raising her head so she could look him in the face. It still felt like a dream. The ceremony had been behind them for several hours, and she felt indescribably happy. And so did Tony. His face was relaxed, and deep love shone in his eyes.
"It might not hurt to repeat it a few more times," he said, pressing his lips to her forehead. "Thank you, Pepper. For everything. That you endured it with me and stayed by my side for so many years."
"Stop it or you'll make me cry," she whispered shakily. "That was enough for your vow," she laughed, and yet she felt tears sting her eyes. Her happiness almost hurt, and she wished everyone in the world to experience that feeling. With Tony by her side, she felt they could handle everything in the world.
"I'm just a natural speaker," he joked, looking around the room. He was surprised to see Michelle and Peter dancing a little further in front of them. They were talking about something and smiling at each other. "Look at our son," he said to Pepper. "When did he grow up so much?"
Pepper melted like a snowman in the sun as she looked at Peter. On this day, she was touched by everything. "It ran away so fast," she whispered. "They look so good. I'm so glad he has her. That he is happy because of her. That everyone around us is finally happy," she breathed, glancing at Clint and Laura, Tommy and Brian, Natasha and Bruce.
"We've all come a long way," Tony agreed. "Maybe the nice thing is waiting for us now." Slowly, he reached with her for the table and took two glasses of champagne. He handed one to her and looked into her eyes. "So may our journey together through life be happy and exactly as we dreamed."
Pepper smiled. "To us," she breathed and clinked glasses with him.
•••
Natasha stood a little farther away from it all with a glass in her hand, but she kept her eyes on her Bruce, struggling not to smile broadly. He was sitting at a table, talking about something with Thor, who was laughing out loud. Loki walked past her several times in the meantime, and when it was about the fifth time, she rolled her eyes at him. She had a feeling she knew what she was thinking. But before she could shout at him and just drag him there, Bucky appeared beside her.
"I would challenge you to dance, but I would not like to infuriate your boyfriend," he told her, smiling slightly.
"Well, I'm glad you're okay with that, because I'm not dancing. And if so, the only one I'd reach for that floor is Bruce," she replied with a smirk and looked around the room. None of the women seemed to catch his eye. "You know, if you don't want to spend tonight alone, maybe you should meet someone," she teased him.
He grunted in displeasure. "I don't like meeting new people. Then there is always an avalanche of questions that I do not want to answer. Why don't you take off your gloves? Why don't you smile? How old are you? When I say I'm a hundred, everyone laughs and takes it as a joke."
"And how else should they take it if you don't really look a hundred?" Nat grinned. "You can go dance with Steve. You know that."
"Funny, Natalia."
"Then you could at least smile, James. Now go and meet someone, or you'll see what happens if you don't. Watch Loki closely now and take it as a warning," she told him, then she turned and went after the god of mischief. He only managed to raise an eyebrow before she grabbed his arm and led him between the dancing couples, right behind Pepper and Tony.
"What are you doing, Romanov?" he growled at her.
"I'm helping you when you don't seem to have the courage and determination," she told him, and they were already standing in front of the Starks' surprised husbands. "Tony, wouldn't you like to rest? I have a companion," she informed them, releasing Loki and grabbing Tony's arm instead. Loki glared at her as she led him away and looked back hurriedly. If she could be killed like this, she would already be dead. Natasha smiled to herself.
"Really?" Tony growled. "I'd rather leave her there alone than with him."
"Don't talk and be glad to take a break from dancing," she growled, pausing in surprise when Bruce suddenly appeared in front of them. She heard Tony's mocking chuckle behind her.
"Could I borrow you for a while, too?" he asked her, a little uncertainly, which she found incredibly cute. "I'd like to get more than just a chat like Bucky or a walk on the floor like Tony with Loki. So? Would you dance with me?" he asked her, slowly reaching for her. Tony broke free of her grip and walked on his own, for which she was grateful because he could easily stay here and tease her for this situation.
At first, she wanted to reject him because she didn't like dancing. But then she remembered what she had said to Bucky. The only one I'd get on that floor is Bruce. And so she agreed.
Bruce must have derailed her answer a little, but then he shook his head and smiled. He took her hand and led her aside to keep them private and out of sight. "I'm not a great dancer," he informed her. "So I'd like to apologize in advance if I step on your feet."
She just smiled and stroked his shoulder. She wanted to tell him so much. Because she felt that right now, here, was the right time. But when she looked into his face and saw the devotion with which she was watching her, she suddenly knew that he knew it all. Everything unspoken did not hang in the air as in an awkward moment, but on the contrary, it flowed around them like a melody of music that surrounded them, it flowed within themselves, within them. She knew Bruce felt the same way. And as the best option she saw, she leaned against him, relaxed, and surrendered to him, holding on to his firm arms that would never let her go.
"I adore you," she whispered to him, closing her eyes and inhaling the smell of his cologne. His breath came to her ears, she felt his heart pound. He buried his face in her red hair and pressed her to him a little tighter.
"I adore you too," he muttered, pressing a kiss to her hair.
Natasha smiled happily.
•••
Loki stood embarrassed in front of Pepper for a while, not knowing what to do with his hands and eyes, he had no idea what the hell he was going to do, and he cursed Agent Romanov in his mind that she had put him in such a situation. Where the hell is Strange when you need to fall to the ground, disappear, and fall still for thirty minutes?!
Wondering if this situation could be even more embarrassing because they were just standing there, and Pepper must have been waiting for him to take the first step, suddenly seizing the opportunity herself, smiling encouragingly at him, and carefully taking his hands.
"Don't be nervous. It's just a dance," she whispered, putting one of his arms around his waist, placing her right hand on his shoulder, and still holding his.
Just dance. Just dance. Dance, but with her.
"I'm sorry about Nat," Pepper continued, calmly, as if nothing had happened, and he just stared at her in disbelief and didn't even realize she was leading him in the dance. "She meant well. You know... you don't have to feel wrong for wanting to dance with me?" she smiled at him.
"I thought... you wouldn't want to. Or that it's going to be weird," he muttered openly. When he was with her, he controlled far less what he said out loud and didn't filter his thoughts. "After all... the two of us... Stark and my past with him—"
"Loki," she said emphatically, "I've already told you. You're one of my closest friends. And Tony, though he may have reservations about it, never talked to me about who I was associating with. And I'll dance with you. I know there are a lot of new things for you and something... it's not easy for you but you always find open arms with me, okay? Because I love you," she whispered, giving him a gentle smile and stroking his cheek lightly.
Surprisingly, Loki's pupils dilated. This woman will probably never cease to surprise him. She said that... that... she loves him. Him. How... can she like him? He was struck by a sudden heat that spread around his heart and struck him completely unprepared. What Pepper did to him... what he was like in her presence... that she made him better... that she made him feel things he didn't know he would ever be able to…
A low, long exhalation escaped his throat. He was surprised to realize that he wanted to push her even closer, hug her, and thank her for everything she had done for him. But he couldn't do it. His throat was constricted and he couldn't find the right words. He suddenly felt like a small, shy boy. But when he looked at Pepper, at her encouraging smile and the warmth in her eyes, he felt he knew everything he had in his heart, but he couldn't say. He couldn't do it.
But he managed to do one thing.
"I love you too," he whispered.