Burning

The party itself went just as everyone had hoped. There was quite a bit of laughter. Music. Games. Drinks. Stories. More drinks. When the guests either cleared out or were carried out, a small group of close friends remained. This little, intimate after party was always Natasha’s favorite part of an eventful night.

The hired help, including the bartender and the DJ had gone home, leaving Nat’s vintage record player spinning some classic rock per Tony’s request. Natasha briefly resumed her post behind the bar making one more round of drinks with Maria and Helen’s assistance, while James, Steve, Tony, Bruce, Clint, Thor, Rhodey and Sam rearranged a few couches and chairs to make for a cozy setting for the small group of Avengers.

Nat was placing a few beer bottles on a tray when Maria gave her shoulder a nudge. “You may want to get in on their conversation,” the commander suggested with a playful look in her eye, nodding toward the group of men. “Steve and Bucky are finally taking about the baseball game, and it sounds a bit interesting.”

Helen stifled a yawn and waved hand toward Natasha while volunteering to bring the rest of the drinks over. That left a suddenly very curious Natasha free to listen in on the guys. She made her way behind the couch where her friend and boyfriend were seated, letting the spy in her take over as she moved quietly. James had been avoiding talking about the game all night, and Natasha was starting to wonder if there was something he didn’t want her to hear.

“…and I mean gorgeous! And guess who they want a picture with?” Steve was saying, a boyish grin on his face.

Tony’s arm shot out to block an approaching Helen in her path, stealing a full glass from her tray. “I’m guessing the great American hero?” he asked, urging Steve on.

“And his faithful sidekick,” Steve replied, looking smug.

James cocked his head as he shot his friend a sideways look. “Since when am I your sidekick?”

Clint laughed. “C’mon Bucky. Everybody knows you’re kind of his sidekick.”

James opened his mouth to respond, but Steve continued. “Anyway, one of the girls gets out her phone to take the picture, and she leans in next to me. And the other actually sits in Buck’s lap!”

Nat froze in her silent footsteps, eyebrows shooting upward in surprise.

Some of the men were laughing, but Thor simply shook his head. “Midgardian women are bold,” he said, sagely.

Tony chuckled. “And thank God for that!”

“Anyway,” Steve interjected, going back to his story. “Bucky gets this uneasy look in his eye - you know the one.”

The rest of the group nodded.

“And he goes, ‘Doll, if my girlfriend saw you sitting here, she’d kick both our asses.’”

The rest of the group laughed, except James, who’s cheeks began to turn a little rosy. Nat bit her lip to stifle her own chuckle.

Steve spread his hands. “So the girls got mad at that and stormed off, and that’s why I don’t have a date tonight.”

Sam snorted. “Some sidekick.”

“Well, he’s right,” Natasha interrupted, making her way around the couch, her fingers trailing across James’ shoulder as she moved. She gracefully lowered herself until she was perched on his left thigh, swinging her knees over his right, and looping her arms around his neck. “This is my territory.”

That got a few more whistles and laughs from the group. Her boyfriend looked down at her with a sheepish grin. “I was kinda worried you’d be mad,” he said.

“Not even a little,” Nat replied. “That was a good answer.”

The conversation changed directions, and Natasha eventually settled next to James on the couch. A beer in her hand, his metal arm around her shoulders, her legs tucked up under herself as she leaned into his body; it was a comfortable and comforting position… as long as she avoided glancing Bruce’s way.

As for James, he was quiet, but calm at her side. His heartbeat felt even against her when she leaned in close. His breathing was normal, his features still free of tension. A part of Nat hated that she was constantly analyzing him, but she blamed it on her upbringing and career as a spy. Reading people was what she had done her entire life, and old habits die hard.

“Truth or dare, then?” Tony suggested, while the rest of the group groaned.

“Definitely not again,” Nat was quick to respond. “Never again.”

Sam leaned back on his hands from his spot on the floor. “We could play cards. Do any of y’all play poker?”

“Strip poker?” Tony chimed in again, eyebrows raised, eyes darting toward Natasha.

“With three girls and eight guys,” Clint jumped in, “that might be a little unfair.”

Dr. Cho simply yawned and leaned her head against a cushion, eyelids heavy, clearly fighting to stay awake.

Thor raised his fist. “Would any of you wish to try lifting my hammer?”

That brought a collective groan from the group, followed by laughter at his crestfallen expression.

“Fine,” Thor replied. “I’ll bet most of you can’t handle my Asgardian liquor, either.” He produced a small flask and topped off his drink before offering it to the others. All but the super soldiers, Steve and James, hastily declined.

“Okay then, we’re playing ‘I never,’” Tony announced. Several others in the group rolled their eyes, but no one verbally protested.

Thor raised a hand. “I don’t know how to play.”

“It’s easy enough,” Tony replied. “Someone says something they’ve never done. Anyone in the group who has, takes a drink.”

He rubbed his hands together. “Like if I say I’ve never hit a bullseye with an arrow…”

“You’re a dick,” Clint quipped before taking a sip of his beer. The others laughed, and Natasha and Maria also took a drink.

“Oh Clint, don’t let Steve hear you talk like that,” Maria said, shaking her head in mock disapproval.

Steve groaned. “That’s not going away, is it?”

“C’mon, who’s next?” Tony interrupted. “Bruce! You do one.”

Bruce looked startled to be put in the spotlight, but he recovered quickly. “Okay, uhhhh… I’ve never flown a plane.”

Nat, Steve, James, Clint, Sam, and Rhodey drank to that. Clint voluntarily spoke up next.

“I’ve never forgotten a girl’s name after sleeping with her.”

All eyes simultaneously turned to Tony, who held up his glass before taking a gulp. “See, now it’s getting interesting,” he said after swallowing.

Thor cleared his throat. “I’ve never been to Asgard.” He paused. “Oh wait, yes I have. I drink now, yes?”

The big man took a long pull from his glass as the other watched him, confused.

“No, the goal is to make other people drink,” Sam cut in to explain.

Thor shrugged. “Why? I was thirsty and this is delicious.”

Again, the group laughed. Rhodey opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a sudden and horrible squealing noise.

The sound was grating, uncomfortable. It made Natasha want to instinctively cover her ears and flinch away, though she kept enough control over her body not to. Thankfully, the bizarre noise faded away as quickly as it had started, followed by a quieter voice.

“I’ll go next. I’ve never been alive…” the voice said. It was tinny and hollow sounding. Like someone speaking softly through a bad connection on an antique phone. “…before today, that is.”

Tony moved to his feet, followed closely by Steve and Clint. Natasha felt her own body tense and James’ arm move from its resting place around her shoulders.

Some… thing lumbered into view. A machine, what looked to be one of Tony’s Iron Legion robots. But the robot was broken, limping, in need of repair. What kind of malfunction allowed it to wander around the tower… speaking?

“Before this I was asleep… or I was a dream…”

The thing rambled on about noise and strings, not making any sense to Natasha’s ears. While it seemed irrational, glitchy, injured, everything inside of her was on high alert. Everything about this robot just felt wrong.

She stole a quick glance at Tony, who was trying to contact Jarvis, seemingly without much luck. Apparently he didn’t know what was going on either.

“…had to kill the other guy,” the legionnaire muttered.

That brought James to his feet, metal fist flexing. The other Avengers also looked stunned. Weren’t they the only ones in the building, Natasha wondered? A wave of urgency swept over her, sending a cold chill down her spine. Nat also slowly rose, ready to move. Ready to fight.

And it wasn’t long until her instincts were proven to be correct. The thing spoke of its mission, of peace. But suddenly it had a different voice. Tony’s voice.

Natasha didn’t have time to think on that strange turn, or even open her mouth to voice a question, as just then, more Iron Legionnaires came crashing through the walls, clearly setting their sights on the Avengers. Shots were fired, and everyone scattered. Nat couldn’t keep track of all of her friends in the chaos, but she felt James’ hand close around hers and she retreated with him. Bruce was trailing close behind.

The trio made for the bar. It had been Nat’s sanctuary for some of the evening, and it would provide cover for them now. James hurdled it with ease, swinging his body over the bar top and ducking behind. Natasha followed, a bit less gracefully. Bruce flopped on top of the bar like a dying fish.

Hissing a curse through her teeth, Natasha reached up and seized Bruce by the shoulder of his coat, roughly tugging him down behind the safety of the bar just as broken glass rained around them. The weight of his body set her off balance, and she landed flat on her back. And Bruce landed face first onto her chest.

The scientist stammered a string of apologies and immediately pushed himself upward. Before Nat could respond, a metal arm fiercely yanked Bruce off of her body and threw him against the back of the bar. More bottles shook loose and crashed to the ground, as James eyed Bruce, metal hand on his shirt collar, fire in his blue eyes.

“What the hell are you doing?!” James demanded, pure venom in his voice.

Natasha moved without thinking. They didn’t have time for this. She gripped James’ sleeve with both hands and pushed herself into his line of sight.

“Not now, James,” she said, sternly. “It was an accident.”

A muscle in her boyfriend’s jaw twitched, but he released Bruce with a grunt. Natasha whirled on the scientist, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

“Please don’t turn green,” she begged.

Bruce met her eyes, before glancing back at James and quickly looking away. “I won’t,” he said, his voice meek.

It was good enough for the circumstances. Now to deal with the murderous robots that were destroying the Avengers Tower. She yanked the hidden gun from under the bar and poked her head out just long enough to take a few shots.

James was smirking when she lowered herself again. “Where else do you have those hidden?” he asked with a nod to the gun in her hands.

She felt her lips curl upwards. “What, you think I have weapons stashed all around the Tower?”

“Yeah,” James countered. “I know you do. So where do I get one?”

Another blast shattered the glass shelves above them, but Natasha chuckled in spite of the situation. “Well, there was one under the coffee table that Steve flipped,” she began. “It looks like it’s in a thousand pieces now, so that’s not exactly an option.”

“Can we do something about this murder bot now guys, or did you want to just sit here and talk some more?” Bruce interjected, looking anxious.

Nat licked her lips and met James’ eyes again. “Closest gun is just upstairs. Behind the plant under the window.”

James threw her a wink. “That’s my girl.”

“What?” Bruce stammered, looking from Nat to James and back again. “What’s happening?”

Without answering, James ducked out from behind the bar, heading for the stairs. Natasha took an extra moment to glance back at her friend. “Follow me,” she said, before rushing after. She moved quickly, raising her handgun to fire a few rounds of cover as they moved.

Once up the stairs, James’s metal arm seized the potted plant and hurled it backwards, right into one of the legionaire’s heads. It wasn’t enough to decommission the robot, but it did set it off balance long enough for him to fire a well-placed bullet into its head. The thing twisted and crumbled, falling to the floor.

The fight didn’t last long after that. Despite the long night, the Avengers were more than a match for a few of Stark’s robots. But a few of their enemies escaped, flying off through shattered windows. And one of them was holding Loki’s scepter.

Silence filled the large room as the friends processed what had just happened. Natasha shifted on her feet, glass cracking under her heels. Could it have been Hydra somehow hacking the Legionaries in order to get the weapon back, she wondered? It didn’t seem likely. Hydra hardly had the technology for…

On the floor below her, Thor moved, interrupting her thoughts. The big man stalked across the room to where Tony sat, fury evident all over his face.

Oh, Natasha reminded herself. That thing had used Tony’s voice.

“You will tell us what this is about, Stark,” Thor demanded, his voice cold as his fingers adjusted their grip on his hammer. “And you will do it now.”