You really didn’t want to be here.
You hated big crowds, loud noises, loud people. But you’d promised Tony that you’d attend at least one of his ‘get-togethers’. You’d been working with the Avengers for some time now, helping them out on missions while still being independent. Or so you thought.
If it wasn’t Fury knocking on your door to try and recruit you for SHIELD, it was Tony or sometimes even Steve trying to get you to officially join the Avengers. Move into Stark Tower, the very building you were now standing in. Being very uncomfortable. Surrounded mostly by people you didn’t know, without even being greeted by the very person who’d roped you into this.
You had to keep yourself from grimacing at the thought of Stark. Asshole. “It’ll be fine, just have a few drinks, a few laughs, you’ll fit right in. And after that you can leave, cross my heart”. Those had been his words. You were strongly considering just skipping to the part where you leave, until the music started. It was much softer and more soothing than you’d expected from Stark, and it calmed you down a little. It was actually quite nice.
But you tensed up again when you noticed someone had moved to stand next to you. You turned slightly to look at the person who’d intruded upon your very short moment of calm in the midst of the storm. The stranger - a handsome stranger you noticed - returned your look, although he wasn’t as confused.
“Don’t worry, I’m only standing next to you because you look as awkward as I feel, and I -”, the man started in a deep, almost hypnotizing voice.
“Do I seem awkward?”, you asked in the middle of his sentence, still slightly annoyed.
“-and I made the, I think correct, assumption that we’d look less awkward standing together than we might standing apart”.
After that, he fell quiet again.
“That’s it?”, you asked, now fully turning to him to look him in the eye.
“Pretty much”.
“Well don’t you think it would look even more awkward if we’re just gonna stand next to each other and not say a word?”, you reasoned, making him meet your eye as you saw a thoughtful look pass over his features.
“Good point. So, how are you enjoying yourself?”, he tried.
You couldn’t help but let out a small laugh, making him frown a little, which you had to admit looked pretty cute.
“You literally walked up to stand next to me because apparently I radiate “awkward”, and then you ask me how I’m enjoying myself?”, you started, but you saw his frown deepen, and you were a little alarmed, because you didn’t mean to insult the one person who’d actually taken the time to strike up a conversation with you.
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude, it’s just that I really don’t like...this”, you explained, gesturing vaguely at the mass of people in the room.
“Crowds? Yeah, me neither. I’ll take a quiet night of meditating over this any day”, he said.
“Meditating, really?”, you asked, at least a little intrigued. He didn’t seem like the type. “I’ve never met a man who would honestly go for that option. Or woman, really”.
He let out a small chuckle. “I wasn’t always a weirdo, you know. I’ve just had a few drastic life changes”, he explained.
“I didn’t say it was weird. In fact, I like it too. Clears my head”, you told him, not missing the little sparkle he now had in his eyes.
“I’m Stephen by the way. Doctor Stephen Strange”, he introduced himself.
“Now that is a good name”, you replied before telling him your own. He repeated it, like he was trying it out. Based on his facial expression, he seemed satisfied with the result.
“Well, there’s something else I’ve found that helps clear the mind, if you’ll allow me to show you”, he proposed.
You raised your eyebrow slightly but gave him a short nod of agreement, making him hold out his hand. “Dance with me?”
You let out another chuckle. “Smooth, doctor”. But you went to take his hand nonetheless.
He led you to the dancefloor and when you two found a good spot, mingled with the rest, but not too central so as to draw attention, you moved into the right position and started softly swaying together. He was an excellent dancer, leading you expertly across the floor.
You liked the feeling of his warm hand in yours, rough with calluses and scars. It suited him, contrasting the soft comforting feeling you got from staring into his beautiful ocean-like eyes.
You hadn’t even noticed the music stopping, so lost in each other's presence. That is, until you noticed Steve making a small, slightly awkward gesture, trying to help you out. He knew you didn’t like attention.
It made you break away from Stephen, reluctantly, and when he too noticed the sudden quiet, he looked around a little before turning back to you.
“Do you wanna get out of here in a dignified way? Because I’m on the verge of just opening up a portal out of nervousness, and I would never hear the end of it from Stark”, he whispered.
“Yeah, probably a good idea”.
You take his arm and try to look as normal as possible as you walk towards the elevator. When you pass Steve you mouth a little “Thank you”, and he nods in acknowledgement, an amused smile evident on his face.
When the elevator doors close behind you, you burst into a small fit of laughter together.
“So, were you serious about opening up a portal? How does that work?”