Chapter Text
“So, Thor is coming back this weekend and I was thinking: a little get-together.” Tony informed them, having coaxed Steve, Sam and Natasha into a having coffee after the briefing.
His announcement was met with various sounds of pleasant surprise and approval. “You’re in?”
“Sure.”
“Yeah.”
“Sounds good.” They had been on missions nonstop for weeks. Nothing major but nevertheless strenuous. A little unwinding could be good for them.
“Great. Bruce is on some conference or other in Europe but I’ll call Clint and ask him and Rhodey simply has no say in this, he has to be there.”
“Oh, is Thor bringing some of that Asgardian liquor?” Sam asked amusedly, remembering the last party, he had brought a small bottle of the brew.
“I very much hope so!” Tony was immediately enthusiastic. “We still have to see whether we can get Cap drunk with enough of that.”
Steve’s brows were knit. “We do?”
Natasha didn’t think they would be very successful with that but it gave her an idea.
“You’re gonna invite Maria?” Natasha inquired. “I don’t think I can stomach all of you alone.”
She looked at the three of them. “No offense.”
It was on Steve’s lips but Sam beat him to it with a grin. “None taken.”
Tony was the only one, who had made a hurt gesture but he quickly recovered. “I wasn’t aware that you couldn’t handle a room full of men, Agent Romanov?!”
“Oh, I can handle you.” She assured him. “Doesn’t mean that I want to.”
To that Sam snickered.
“So?” Natasha eyed Tony.
“Hey, I’m the first to agree with you on the deplorable lack of attractive women in our Super Secret Boy Band. Of course, I’ll invite her.”
Natasha smirked. “You like the things, you cannot have?” She couldn’t help but tease him.
“You know me too well.” Tony admitted in their playful little banter and, still smirking, Natasha gave Steve a calculating glance.
For a former spy, Steve would have thought her to be more subtle. Or she simply didn’t want him not to notice.
It made him feel apprehensive.
Steve liked Maria. She was certainly very attractive, Steve respected her professionalism and over the years he had learned that she had an engaging personality when she let her hair down, literally.
She had charisma. There was something about her that he couldn’t — or didn’t want to — name, a sort of affinity that pulled him in, the very same thing that pushed him to keep a distance.
He had no idea what Natasha was planning. Maybe he was just being paranoid.
Probably.
“What about Pepper?”
“Oh, yeah, I’ll ask her.” Tony nodded. “Maybe she’ll find some time in her busy schedule.”