[? // Your local, friendly Stark party...]

♪you're listening to DON'T THREATEN ME WITH A GOOD TIME - Panic!At The Disco♪
♪in queue:BETWEEN THE BARS - Elliott Smith♪

Tinny:
You are all cordially invited to Mr. Stark's Valentine's evening - hosted by Tony and Clint (that moron).
Please keep in mind the dresscode, formal. But keep an element of informal in there (if you catch my drift...)
Venue: chez moi. Tony's. I thought that was obvious.
Thank you.
(You're welcome, to Mr. Barton, who forced me to host this with him.)

Peter:
Ooh oh, Mr. Stark!

Peter:
Does that mean I can come too?

Tinny:
No

Tinny removed Peter

Clint:
FINALLY!!

Bruce:
Should I wear a tie or is that too formal?

Bruce:
I'm wearing a tie

Nat:
as long as-

Nat:
I can-

Nat:
take it--

Bruce:
NAT THIS ISN'T PRIVATE CHAT, YOU ALWAYS DO THIS.

Nat:
uhh --TAKE IT FOR DRYCLEANING FIRST!

Bucky:
wow,, a toaster could've come up with a better save

You:
You are s i n Barnes, you are SIN...

Bucky:
I speak the truth

You:
Then tell me if I should wear a tie too ??

Bucky:
Ok I will help you pick an outfit

You:
Wait I never asked you to --

Bucky:
you have a walk-in closet

Bucky:
I like your walk-in closet

You:
You're lying,, you just like playing dressup on girlsgogames

Bucky:
I LIKE YOUR CLOSET OK?????

Bucky left

Thor:
Do we bring an escort?

Clint:
If you want to!!!

Thor:
I haven't got any open options.

Clint:
Bruce & Nat are coming together, I'm bringing someone, Wanda & Vision, Steve & Bucky (they say AS FRIENDS but I doubt it)..

Steve:
HEY!

Clint:
So I guess it's officially mandatory. No shirt, no shoes, no date = no entry.

Thor:
Well...

Thor:
RAAAY! MY BESTEST OF FRIENDS!

You:
Sorry, Mister Odinson who only calls his "bestest friend" when he needs something - I'm going to escort Tony as his dance partner in the absence of Pepper to fulfill my duties as a considerate friend.

Thor:
...

Thor:
Ouch.

Loki:
Hm.

You:
What is it??

Loki:
It's nothing.

Thor:
No matter. I will find someone. I am THE GOD OF THUNDER.

Sam:
So what

Sam:
You gonna threaten to hit someone with lightning if they don't go with you?

You:
BUCKY WRECKED MY FUDKIBF CLOSET

Bucky:
That's not true

You:
You don't just wreck a closet and rUN AWAY

Bucky:
I love you! :D

You:
Hey that's what you always say to me when you do shit like steal all my cereal, isn't it

Bucky left

You:
What a prick

You:
Where's Pietro when you need all the dirty work done

Loki:
Ray, would you like to go shopping for something new?

You:
Stores are closed, Loke :'

Loki:
I shall help you clean up then. And you could possibly choose between the black dress pants and green chemise or that tiny black dress of yours.

You:
Wait, that's perfect

You:
That's actually perfect.

You:
Thankyouthankyouthankyou

Loki:
As always. You don't have to mention it.

You:
Seriously I don't know how you catch all these details and end up with stuff I never thought I'd actually like. You're a magician

You:
Oh wait

You:
Wait would you really clean up though??

Loki:
Well I'm not touching all that shit.

Loki:
I'll use magic.

You:
Fair enough.

[Ray took Loki's advice, going with the dresspants and the top that drew a perfect line between formal and informal.
She left the building with the dazzling couple, Natasha and Bruce. The rest of the group would meet Tony and Clint later on - "chez Tony" as mentioned.
And so they arrived at the scene...]

There were no cheesy, pink decorations. As expected, Tony would want to paint the house with elegant streaks of golden and just the right amount of sparkling materials - as much as Clint would be persistent on adding way more - because he just knew how to do his thing.

Tony decided to knock off his bitterness due to Pepper not being there, and bring back the pleasant-to-be-around-at-parties side of him.

He greeted his friendly dance partner, "Miss Ray, a pleasure to be the reason the mighty God of Thunder doesn't have a date today."

He grinned as Thor entered wearing a distinct, dark scarlet god-knows-what. Behind him was Loki, wearing quite the ensemble; a white silk top (an unusual pick for him) and black pants, with odd pointy shoes that always bothered Ray. But hey, he looked great, slicked back hair and everything.

Then followed quickly by the closet killing Bucky, who thought it'd be funny to show up in a ridiculous T-shirt and jeans, a subtle bun popping up at the top of his head.

And the showstopper - Steve Rogers, looking effortlessly great in what could've once been the dullest light grey suit.

Maybe exaggerated because of Ray's perspective on him, but nonetheless gorgeous. So gorgeous that she missed Wanda and Vision's entrance making all the singles envious and many choke instantaneously on their light alcoholic beverages.

The Avengers made their way towards the central area, propping down on the couches to relax and probably bully Wanda and Vision into blushing until they both combusted.

Loki nudged Ray gently, "I've been told I look like the result of a crossover between a build-a-bear workshop and a "Snow White". Is that good?"

Ray choked back a giggle, "Was it Bucky?"

"Yes, why?"

She cleared her throat, "Umm... You look great."

She could see a slight grin creeping onto his face.

"Good."

The next song was a cue for the evening's main slow dance, as Clint announced.

Tony was now through two bottles of something he shouldn't have had two bottles of and he quickly waddled up to Ray.

He managed to utter four words, "I need pee. Sorry."

He then ran off, disappearing past the crowd.

Frank Sinatra was now cooing loudly yet still so softly, with Come Fly With Me.

Ray had her hands bunched up in her lap as everyone - including the singles - scurried to find their partners wherever they were (even Thor found someone). It felt like a high school dance.
Her eyes followed Bucky and Steve, who just preferred to watch on the sidelines, with their drinks in hand.

Out of the blue, a hand reached out to her.

"You're not going to just sit there, are you?"

She looked up to see Loki and she let out a chuckle and eye roll at his method of approach.

Taking his hand, Ray joined the mass of dancing and whispering pairs.

"Didn't take you for a silk wearing dancer." She confessed.

"You did say I look rather dashing" He smirked.

"Pretty sure that's not how I worded it..."

His smirk grew wider but swiftly dropped when he followed her gaze.

"When are you going to tell him?" He shifted her chin to look back at him, just so she didn't start daydreaming while her gaze was fixed on Steve. That would be odd.

"Maybe now." She grinned at her friend confidently.

"Eager to get away from me huh?" He chuckled.

She froze in her spot suddenly. For a few moments, she remained in that position. As if she was realising something in the wrong moment. At the completely wrong time.

Then she started dancing again.

"Something wrong?"

"Besides your dancing?" She joked.

He rolled his eyes, "Honestly, you should look at yourself right now. You're lucky I picked you up?"

"Picked me up?" She mocked taking offence.

"It's the truth."

"I was perfectly fine! I could've asked someone else by myself..." She looked down at their feet moving in sync.

"Oh really?" Loki's eyes widened, "Is that so?"

She scoffed, still smiling. "You know what? I'm going. I'm going to ask Steve."

"Go on then."

"Hey, I'm not going to leave until this song ends. Something tells me I owe you a proper dance. And besides, leaving like that would just be rude. I'll catch Steve on the next one." She smirked.

"I'd like to see you try." He scoffed.

She simply smirked back at him.

But Loki didn't want Sinatra to stop singing. He didn't want the song to end now.

He sighed to himself as the last verse of the song echoed in his head and her arms smoothly slipped of his shoulders.

He smiled when she shot him a playful look and turned around.

Then Loki watched the one person he had probably ever attempted to love walk right away from him as he softly asked himself, "Am I that bad of a dancer..?"