Siren's Song

       “Sorry about this,” she said after giving Happy a destination. “Tony forgot to mention a party for the Avengers tonight, so he asked me to get you fixed up. Pepper Potts, by the way.”
         “Hi. Lily.” We shook hands. “Do I have to go?”
        “According to Tony,” she rolled her eyes. “He wants to see how well you do with the public in large crowds. How you handle pressure and if you think fast on your feet.”
         “Okay, I guess this is my first test.” I grimaced. “I was never any good at pop quizzes.”
        “I thought not,” she smiled to show she didn’t mean anything by the comment. “That’s why I volunteered to take you shopping for a dress. Besides, it gives me a chance to play dress up with another girl. Too much testosterone at the Tower.”
          “What about uh,” I thought for a minute. “Tasha and Wanda?”
         “They’re meeting us there,” she laughed. “We’re having a girl’s day! I’m glad they got you recruited early enough that we can do this!”
         “What do you three usually do for your girl days?”
      “Well, since it’s your first time,” she bit her lip. “We’re going all out! Dress, shoes, mani, pedi, hair and makeup!”
       “You don’t have to do that!” I gasped, shocked at how much that would cost.
          “Oh stop, don’t worry.” Pepper patted my leg. “Tony doesn’t know what to do with half the money he has. Besides, it gives him a chance to spoil his adopted family. Not that he would ever admit to any of it. He really seems to like you.”
            “Why?” I asked confused.
            “He’s been researching all about you.” Pepper opened her door when the car stopped. “He says you’re a real saint. Never got into any serious trouble, lost your parents in a car accident, help your aunt and uncle out constantly. He even asked Tasha to stay one day to see when you left. She said you got there before sunrise and didn’t leave until well after closing. But not before your uncle, who you forced out first, then locked the door behind him so he couldn’t get back in. Then you turned on some music and cleaned up as you sang and danced along.”
            “Oh, I am so embarrassed!” I blushed. “She saw all of that?”
         “It only made the team more determined to have you join,” she waved at Tasha and Wanda in the store. “Come on, I love doing this!”
           She grabbed my hand, practically dragging me along to the racks for party dresses. I was in way over my head with this lot and I knew it. I loved dresses but didn’t even go to my prom because we just couldn’t stretch our funds enough. Mom had offered to make me a dress or order one that would work for more than just the prom. But I knew the money wasn’t there and told her I really didn’t want to go. I had seen several people going to their prom over the years, how I wished I could look that glamorous. She looked at me critically, then started pulling dresses out in all colors that she thought would compliment my skin tone.
          “Tasha?”
          “Yes, Pepper.”
            “Would you take Lily to try these on?” Pepper smiled wide. “I need to get a dress for me. If they all look good on her you know what to do.”
           “Come on kid,” Tasha waved me over.
            “I’m not a kid Tasha,” I grumbled. “I’m 21 for goodness sake.”
            “So you just got out of baby clothes,” she winked at me. “Get used to it, you’re the youngest official member. Stark hates using our real names, he’ll call you anything but your name. If he uses your name, be afraid. Now scoot in there and let me see how they look.”
           I hated trying on clothes. Aunt Sarah loved to take me places and model outfits for her. She called me dark Irish and said I could wear almost any color. Apparently Pepper agreed about wearing any color. I had a black, lavender, even a deep burgundy. I sighed and proceeded to strip to my panties and bra. After each dress I went out and showed Tasha, she had the final say on what would work. By the time I finished I was ready to be pampered on Tony’s dime. We walked back to where Pepper and Wanda were getting ready to pay.
                “Tasha,” Pepper looked up from digging in her purse.“What’s the verdict?”
                 “First, Lily how many dresses do you own?”
“I have a couple dresses and a skirt or two. I never needed them for anything.” I said self consciously.
               “Never mind Tasha,” Pepper took all the dresses from us and gave them to the cashier. “We want all of these as well.”
               “Of course Ms. Potts.”
             “No, please.” I choked out. “That’s too much. I won’t need that many dresses!”
                  “Listen,” Wanda took me aside. “I was in your place not long ago, I tried to say no as well. She came back after I left and bought them anyway. One way or another, you will have these dresses. It’s easier this way besides, it makes her happy.”
             I worried my bottom lip. I thought about who I would be working with, the number of parties that I knew about Stark throwing, and nodded in defeat. Wanda hooked her arm through mine and we started walking toward the door. One of the store employees placed our bags in the limo and bid us goodbye.
               “Where to?” Happy asked.
                “Girls?” Pepper questioned.
               “Could we do our nails and kinda snack at the same time?” I asked. “I know you said lunch but if we have the party tonight?”
                “She has a point.” Natasha said. “Let’s get finger foods delivered to the salon. Wouldn’t be the first time for us and they don’t mind because we share.”
               “Happy, salon please.” Pepper said as she put her phone to her ear.
                “So,” Wanda leaned forward. “Tell us about yourself Lily.”
               “I thought you all knew everything already?”
           “No,” Pepper remarked, closing her phone. “Tony is the busybody, we merely get tidbits from him.”
       “My adoptive parents died in a car accident when I was 16.” I began telling them all about myself, except for my powers. They found out about my childhood, teenage years, my first crush (Robert Downey Jr., such a hottie!), and finally about my aunt and uncle. Jack had taught me to cook so that if he and Sarah ever got sick at the same time the diner was still going. My history finished just as Happy turned the limo off.
            “Interesting,” Wanda said to herself.
            “What?” I asked worried.
            “Your adopted,” she said it like that explained everything.
            “So? There are quite a few people that are adopted.” I responded.
           “I mean that because you are adopted it will be more difficult to find your biological family.” Wanda explained. “If your powers are genetic then you should find out how they came to you. If not, we should find the trigger.”
        “Hi, reservation for Potts for four.” Pepper smiled at the receptionist, who nodded and asked us to follow her.
        “I didn’t know that salons had receptionists,” I whispered to Natasha.
      “The good ones do,” replied the receptionist. “Ours is a bit more geared toward high end clients. Would anyone care for a drink?”
     “Please!” Pepper sighed. “Champagne, if you have it. We’re celebrating!”
    “Very good, Ms. Potts.” The receptionist ushered us into a room and turned to leave. “I’ll return with your champagne and tell the delivery boy which room you’re in.”
   “There should be enough finger foods for the whole staff as well.” Pepper responded. The receptionist nodded her understanding and smiled wide.
      “So, what now?” I asked.
     “At this particular place,” Natasha leaned into me. “It goes massage, nails, feet, hair, then makeup. They even let us dress here and then go to the party.”
      “That way we are relaxed, having fun, and the guys are surprised by how good we look.” Wanda added.
      “Oh!” Pepper grabbed for her phone, Tony was calling. “Excuse me girls.”
          “Wonder what’s up?” Natasha said.
         “Doesn’t he call her often?” I asked. “I mean they are together, right?”
         “Yes, they’re a couple.” Wanda snickered. “But he doesn’t interrupt a girl’s day. Pepper always texts him the color of her dress so he knows what to wear, but that’s the limit. He wouldn’t interrupt unless it was important.”
          “Bye, yes I’ll tell the girls.” Pepper hung up her phone and looked at us. She looked worried about telling us what was going on. “I’m going to tell you now. Then we’ll get the massage and it can relax our nerves.”
        “Lovely way to start,” Wanda grimaced. “Pretend it’s a band aid Pepper.”
       “Thor showed up,” Pepper started fiddling with her fingers. Then blurted. “Loki is with him and is staying on Earth to work towards redemption.”
        Silence greeted the news. I wasn’t around when Loki attacked New York, I had just lost my parents and was living in upper Vermont at the time. Wanda had been in Sokovia with her twin brother, but Tasha was front and center at the time. He had mind controlled her friend Clint and I doubt she was the forgiving type.
       “We’re gonna need something stronger than champagne,” Tasha replied.
        “Ladies!” A group of people came in carrying extra massage beds, they set them up and then turned to us.
           “Do you have the ingredients for screwdrivers?” I asked.
         “We do.” A man looked around nervously. “Do you prefer them to the champagne?”
          “Bring the bottle of champagne,” I decided. “And bring a round of screwdrivers. We need a little something to help us with the news we just received.”
         “Of course, miss.” He smiled and turned to another employee, asking for the drinks to be brought.
        They got us all set up and into silken robes. It was heavenly, the silk sliding over my body was a very sensual experience. I rarely had the occasion to wear silk but I decided then and there to do so more often. Drinks arrived at the same time as the finger foods and just as the massages were finishing up. We weren’t getting full massages, just enough one to loosen us up and enjoy the experience. I got up and slipped my robe back on, then went to a table set up with the food. With glass and plate in hand, I went to get my toes done first.
         “Why toes first?” Wanda asked.
         “That way I can eat while they work on them.” I replied. “By the time they’re finished, I will be too. Then I won’t mess up the lovely job they do on my nails.”
          The girls looked at each other, then they all went after plates of food. I guess they hadn’t thought about mixing it up a little, just automatically going to do nails before their toes. I’d never had a pedicure, not many blue collar girls have the time or funds for such things. It was a different experience and rather enjoyable.
          “First pedi?” Pepper asked.
         “Is it that obvious?” I giggled.
         “Yes,” the lady at my feet said bluntly. She smiled to take the edge off. “Your feet are still pretty sensitive when touched and you sigh happily every so often.”
          “I’m sorry,” my face flushed.
         “No, please” she said as she packed up her station. “It means I’m doing a good job! I love working on people that express their enjoyment.”
          “Pepper,” Tasha sighed.
         “Huh.”
          “Which dress should we put her in first?” Tasha asked.
           “Black would look lovely with those blue eyes and dark hair.” Wanda gave her opinion.
          “Agreed.” Pepper looked thoughtful. “How about some blue polish to match her eyes?”
          "Blue?” I asked.
        “Perfect.” Wanda smiled at me. “You have lovely eyes, the blue on your nails will stand out more because of that. I think it would look nice, especially with your skin tone.”
       “I guess I’ll trust you on this,” I said uncertainly. “I don’t wear nail polish much, it’s frowned on when you’re a waitress and sometimes cook.”