Raise a Glass to Freedom
The room was large and flooded with colorful lights and the sound of happy chatter. The moon was high in the sky and stars winked downward as if applauding the victory of the Avengers over the army of Nemea soldiers that Ross had sent to Wakanda.
The group had only just returned to America and had come back to the Avengers Compound ready to celebrate their hard earned victory against Nemea in the battle of Wakanda. Of course everyone knew that it was definitely not over and Nemea would be planning an attack in retaliation, but for now, they were fine.
Tony had tried multiple times to slip off back down to his lab only to be dragged back up to the party by either Dr. Strange. By the fifth time this happened, it was decided that someone needed to be watching Tony at all times for the rest of the night.
Peter, Shuri, and Mindy were sitting on one of the couches sipping soda, much to there annoyance. Mindy hd tried to argue that as Palmarius she should not have to follow the legal limit for alcohol. She almost won her case until Steve pointed out that while Palmarius may be ageless, Mindy was still a freshman in highschool and therefore would be drinking soda, not champagne.
“Hey Peter, any word on your suit?” Shuri asked. She had decided to come back with the other Avengers to New York for a bit to try and help Tony with the infinity stone research, and just to try and get them to update their tech along with making sure that the newly reconstructed Vision was settling in alright.
“Mr Stark won’t let me see it,” Peter grumbled, a defeated look on his face.
“I offered to steal it back for him, but he said no,” Mindy explained.
“If you stole it back for me, I’d be in even bigger trouble than I am!” Peter exclaimed.
“Yeah, but it would be freakin hilarious.”
“Hey Bucky, you all good?” Steve asked for what Bucky was sure was the tenth time that night.
“I am, as I was five minutes ago, fine,” he replied with a role of his eyes. Earlier in the day Bucky had confessed that he was a bit nervous about attending the celebration get together for fear of relapsing into Winter Soldier mode. Ever since then Steve had taken it onto himself to pester Bucky half to death.
“Just checking,” Steve said, putting his hands up in mock surrender.
“Any news on Nemea?” Bucky asked, both to change the subject and to prove to Steve that he could say the name without flipping out.
“Nothing yet,” Steve said with a sigh. “There’s an investigation going on though to try and weed out the other Nemea agents within the government. So far they’ve come up with nothing though.”
“I suspect that will stay the same,” Bucky said. If Nemea’s in the government then they won’t be caught by one simple investigation. They’re too good for that.” They both turned at the sound of approaching footsteps and saw Tony making his way over to them.
“I’ve been working on some updates for both of your gear, and I need you guys to approve them. Come down to the lab?” he asked.
“Sure, but I know you’re just doing this now so that Strange can’t drag you back up here,” Steve said. The group of three weaved through the people and furniture as they headed towards the door to the lab. Steve tripped over a fallen tray at one point earning a chorus of "Call Life Alert! A senior citizen has fallen!” From Peter, Shuri, and Mindy who were sitting nearby. He had a feeling that the tray had been pre set for that exact purpose, but didn’t say anything.
As Tony got the updates ready to show Steve and Bucky, Steve realized how long it had been since he had stood in the lab listening to Tony mutter science stuff to himself while he worked. He had actually kind of missed it. He got the feeling that Tony had too as the updates were nothing major and weren’t even necessary.
“You have five more minutes before I go down there and drag you back up here, Stark!” the voice of Dr. Strange yelled from the landing above. Tony groaned in annoyance but complied, heading back up to the rest of the group once the updates were all set and approved.
“The kid’s planning a powerpoint on reasons why you should give him his suit back,” Stephen said as a way of greeting. Tony glanced over to where Peter, Shuri and Mindy were seated to see that sure enough, they were all looking at a computer screen and talking in whispers, occasionally glancing up at Tony.
“Yeah, he’s not seeing that suit for the rest of the week,” Tony said.
“Then you’ll be having one Hell of a week,” the doctor said, taking a sip of his drink. “Seems weird not drinking this in space,” he said as an afterthought, realizing it was the same think he’d snuck aboard their ship. Tony laughed.
“Different setting, equally worrisome circumstances.”
“A toast; To us never getting half a days vacation,” Stephen said, raising his glass.
“A toast,” Tony agreed, doing the same. They fell into a companionable silence until a shout from Steve made all heads turn towards the couches where the youngest members of the group were sitting.
“WHO GAVE YOU THAT ALCOHOL!”
Sure enough, the three all had a glass of champagne in their hands and were obviously trying not to laugh at the absolute outrage on the captain’s face. Palmarius, who was still in her form of Mindy was the first to break her resolve and burst into a fit of laughter, which only served to make Peter and Shuri do the same. “Stop laughing!” Steve ordered, the only person in the room who did not find the situation highly amusing.
“Palmarius form swapped into one of us to get it for them?" Tony asked.
"Yup," Stephen replied, having seen the whole thing.
As the night continued onward, the group slowly began to disperse as they returned to wherever they would be sleeping that night. Most people were staying at the compound minus Dr. Strange, who portaled back to the Sanctum, and Thor and Loki who used the bifrost to return to their people back in Norway.
“Bed. Now,” Tony demanded, walking over to where Peter, Shuri, and Mindy were still sitting.
“But it’s only...oh dang it’s 1:30,” Peter realised.
“Exactly. So unless you want Captain Goodie-goodie to yell at both of us, get going,” Tony ordered. Under the threat of another lecture from Steve, the three quickly went off to their rooms in the compound, leaving Tony go back down to his lab now that Strange wasn’t there to force him out of it. Take that, wizard.
Tony worked for four hours straight before a very annoyed looked Dr. Strange appeared in the middle of his lab, making Tony jump up and knock his stool over.
“What the Hell!” he yelled.
“I just received a call from Pepper that you were still down here,” the doctor growled.
“So you just portaled in?” Tony asked incredulously. Strange did not deign to answer, choosing instead to just point to the stairs.
“No. No, no, and no. You do not get to randomly appear and make demands. Out you go now, shoo,” Tony said, making a shooting motion with his hands before returning to the updates for Natasha’s tasers that he had been working on. Dr. Strange glared at the back of his head for a few moments before opening a portal below the other man’s feet and watching with a smirk as Tony fell through it and onto his bed. In the compound above. The last thing he saw before closing the portal was Tony flipping him off from where he sat, still stunned from dropping through the floor.
Strange considered leaving through the front door, but decided that he’d just portal back to the sanctum. It was late, and he was tired. Had he left the normal way, perhaps he would have seen the dark figure perched silently in the lawn outside, watchful gaze set on the Avengers compound.