CHAPTER 21 - Birthday pt 2

"A manhattan, please," I asked with a kind smile.

"Can I see some ID?" the guy asked uninterested.

"Can I say no?" I replied jokingly, sending him a confident smile.

"Sorry, no, it's what I get paid to do," he replied, finally opening a little up with a crooked smile.

"Well, I don't know about my dad, but I'm just paying you to mix and serve drinks, actually," I explained. His eyes widened with realisation as he recognized me.

"You're... Veronica Stark," he stated. I nodded.

"Little bit."

"I am so sorry," he quickly apologised, correcting his shirt.

"Tell you what, I'll forgive you if you get me a manhattan?" I suggested, sending him a calming smile.

"I'll see what I can do," he agreed.

"Veronica." I slowly slid down from my stool before turning around.

"Pietro," I said, practically out of breath. His black suit seemed to fit him perfectly, framing his muscled chest while still giving room for elegance.

"Hey," he said quietly. By the sound of his voice, the music, the talking, everything, seemed to disappear, just as the lights did. All I could see was him.

"You look beautiful," he mentioned.

"As do you," I stated, not sure how to express myself.

You look so fucking beautiful, I've never seen you or anyone for that matter who looked so gooddamn amazing holy shit I think I love you.

"Hey, can we talk?" he asked quietly, taking a step closer to me. I nodded.

"Not here, somewhere private," he elaborated.

"I'll meet you there in a second," I promised before biting my lip. His eyes lid up in excitement as he nodded before leaving.

I turned around, still out of breath. The bartender placed the drink before me, shaking me out of my thoughts.

"So, I guess asking you out won't be a good idea," he joked.

"What do you mean?" I asked, straightening my dress.

"Well, you're in love with him, aren't you?" he asked calmly.

"What? Pietro? I, what, where did you get that?" I asked, laughing nervously. He raised both his eyebrows in a demonstration of disbelief.

"Fine," I agreed, leaning against the bar; "But he doesn't see me that way," I told him.

"Judging by his looks, I'd say you're all he see," he told me.

"I should go to him," I stated.

"Probably," he agreed.

"Hey, if you see my dad or any of the Avengers asks for me, can you just tell them I popped out for some air?" I asked instead.

"Sure. Wouldn't it be better to tell him yourself, though?"

"I want a few minutes to myself before he notices I'm gone. And there's no way he won't be stopping by here at least a million times tonight," I explained.

"I love it up here," Veronica admitted, causing Pietro to turn around and light up in a smile as he saw her.

"So do I," he agreed, eliminating the few steps seperating them.

"You look... You look amazing," Pietro admitted before bursting into a smile. Veronica felt the heat flow to her cheeks and bit her lip.

"Thank you, Pietro."

They looked each other in the eyes, and Pietro had to stop himself from leaning in.

She looked so beautiful...

"So," Veronica interrupted the silence; "What did you want to talk about?"

Tell her.

"I..."

Just tell her, damn it! Tell her you're in love with her, tell her she's all you think about, tell her!

"Just wanted to give you your gift," he ended the sentence, sighing internally. He held up the poorly wrapped package as to prove it.

"Oh, thank you! You didn't have to-""I wanted to," he interrupted, handing her it. She carefully took it from his hands and inspected it.

"I am sorry about the wrapping, it is not my strongest ability," he apologised profoundly.

"Are you saying you have a strongest ability?" Veronica teased, sending him a smile that could instantly cure even death.

"Well, I'm pretty fast," he excused.

"We still don't know the full extent of my powers. I might be able to go faster than even you, Sonic," Veronica pointed out.

"Oh will you just open it?" Pietro complained, jokingly reaching out for it.

"Fine, fine. Gosh, always in such a hurry," she mentioned, carefully removing a piece of tape. As she removed the wrapping paper, a black box appeared. She removed the lid before freezing.

"Oh my god," she said quietly.

"It is nothing," Pietro claimed, waving it off.

"It is everything," Veronica corrected; "I mean, it's perfect."

"It's just a cheap necklace," he mentioned.

"I don't care. It's perfect... It's from you," she added, making Pietro's heart burst.

Veronica looked at the necklace, at the resemblance the silver star had to the ones on the skies, before slowly picking it up.

"Help me put it on?" she asked, handing a nodding Pietro the necklace before turning around.

Pietro unclapsed it before placing it above her chest, his hands running along her soft skin. While he struggled with the lock, Veronica's fingers ran to it, carefully touching it.

"There," he said, not wanting to let go.

"It's beautiful," Veronica stated, not moving away.

"You're beautiful," Pietro corrected, his breath practically nonexisting.

You've never been this close to her.

Yes, I have. Plenty of times.

Not like this, the voice corrected.

"Thank you," Veronica whispered, slowly turning her head around to look at Pietro.

"Do not thank me," he whispered back, his lips closing in as Veronica's eyes closed.

He felt her breath on his lips, her warmth spreading like wildfire even throughout his veins. He spread his lips slightly and closed his eyes, preparing for the fireworks and exploding butterflies.

A text sounded, and Veronica pulled away like a scared deer.

"Veronica-""You should check who it is," she interrupted, taking a step further away. Pietro felt his joy burst as he picked up his phone.

"It's Fury," he informed; "he wants me to come report immediately. Is that okay?" He carefully eyes Veronica who sent him a fake smile.

"Of course!" she said, her voice unusually high.

"Veronica,-""No, it's fine. Go," she said, struggling to get her voice back to normal.

Pietro nodded slowly.

"I will be back," he promised - and with those words, he disappeared.

"That was torture," I stated as I landed on a bar chair again.

"Trouble in Paradise?" the bartender asked.

"There is no Paradise, there's only Hell," I informed.

"Yikes. Sounds like you could use a drink," he mentioned.

"One? Maybe I could use one drink once I've already had five," I corrected him; "What's your name?"

"It's Will," he explained, placing an empty glass in front of me.

"That's definitely not enough alcohol," I informed him. He merely smiled as he poured my drink.

"Thanks," I mumbled before grabbing it.

"So. I take it you two aren't a couple yet?" he asked curiously.

"Not just 'yet'. We're not a couple at all," I informed, taking a big sip.

"Well, don't be too upset. There's lots of people who wants to dance with you," Will mentioned.

"You know what? You're right," I decided; "I'm just gonna dance with the next person who asks!"

"Is that so?"

I froze, my glass halfway up to my lips, my entire body tensing.

"James," I whispered.

"Glad to hear you haven't forgotten my name," he joked, taking a seat next to me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked quietly, searching for an escape.

"I got an invite. Thought it'd be rude to decline," he explained with a shrug.

He got an invite - from who?! I certainly didn't invite him, and my dad didn't even know who I knew, he just invited... Everyone from my phone's contact list, I realised, where James was still on.

"You should go," I whispered, making James smile the smile I hated so deeply.

"Is there a problem?" Will interfered, making me sigh with relief.

"Not a problem at all, bar boy. Tell him, honey," he ordered me, smiling smugly to Will.

"There's not a problem," I agreed quietly.

Why did you say that, you idiot?! That was your way out!

"Veronica, you seem a little-""She said there's no problem," James interrupted; "And that's miss Stark to you." Will nodded slowly before turning to the other guests. James turned to me instead.

"Now, I believe you owe me a dance," he mentioned, holding his hand out for me to take.

"I..."

"You said the next person to ask. I'm the only one offering, in case you didn't notice," James stated coldly. I slowly slipped my hand into his and let him lead me to the middle of the dancefloor.

He placed his arms around my waist.

"I can't dance," I stated. I wasn't sure if it was true. I'd never slow danced. But with my body seeming not even able to walk, it seemed unlikely I could dance.

"Sure you can. Here, like this," he guided, sounding way too kind. He moved my arms around his neck before putting his hands back around my waist, pulling me close.

"Like this," he whispered, moving us along in a steady tempo.

"James-""Yes, my dear?" I tried to move back but to no use.

"Why are you trying to move away?" he asked me quietly; "You know we belong together."

"James-""Look at me." He moved his hand to beneath my chin and raised it, forcing me to look at him.

"I love you." I froze. Utterly and completely.

"I didn't know what we had, but I do now," he said.

"You're lying," I stuttered, taking a step back. James smiled.

"Okay, I am. I don't love you. But I will lie to you as often as you'd like," he promised, stepping closer; "We can still be together."

"Veronica, hi." I quickly turned to around, seeing Pietro's sour onion face. Without a second thought, I quickly stepped closer to him, practically forcing me to stand upright.

"Who are you?" I heard James ask protectively.

"Veronica, draga mea, are you okay?" Pietro asked quietly, entirely ignoring James.

"I asked you a question!" I recognised James angry voice and clenched my eyes together.

"Come on," he whispered, discreetly picking me up and moving us both to the side of the room. I struggled to get my breath as he nudged my back.

"What's wrong?" he asked. I shook my head.

"You know how you said all I had to say was 'I'm not okay', and you wouldn't ask?" I asked him. He nodded.

"I'm not okay." Pietro nodded and without saying another word pulled me close. I hid my face in his chest as his strong arms surrounded me in a hug that made me feel safer than I ever had before.

"I'm scared," I whispered, clutching onto his suit.

"I know, draga mea. It is okay. Nu voi lăsa să se întâmple nimic cu tine," he promised.

I won't let anything happen to you.

"Hey, kids, break it up," Bruce advised as he neared us. I slowly pulled away from the safety of Pietros arms.

"Steve is looking at you suspiciously," he explained.

"Anyway, it's the first time I've seen you tonight, Pietro," he continued, not sensing my mood.

"Yes. I had to take care of something," Pietro replied quickly, still not letting entirely go of me.

"How's your birthday going, Vee?" Bruce asked me instead; "I noticed James's here. I didn't realise you two were talking again."

I felt Pietro's arms freeze around me.

"That is James?" he asked through gritted teeth. I nodded.

"Are you okay?" he asked after turning to me. I nodded again.

"Will you be okay if I go for a second?" he asked. I nodded, this time a little confused.

And then he was gone. Bruce looked suspiciously at me as I tried to catch sight of Pietro.

"Ve-" His word was interrupted by the sound of yelling from the dancefloor. I quickly made my way there, through the crowd gathering in a circle.

"Pietro!" I cried loudly as I got there.

On the floor was James. Surrounded by a mist of silver, created by Pietro's speed. Constant kicks, hits and pain hit James, and every time he tried to make his way up, someone knocked him down.

Someone being Pietro.

My hand flew to my mouth, covering it.

"Pietro, stop!" my dad yelled as he interfered, desperately attempting to get a hold of him.

"Cap, little help?"

Steve appeared beside him, assisting his undescribable lack of success at getting to Pietro.

"He's too fast!" Steve informed.

"Thanks for the commentary, Captain Obvious, can you just do something?!" my dad cried desperately.

"Steve, incoming!" I heard Natasha yell before the shield came flying towards the group that quickly separated, now trying to get as far as way as possible.

Quickly, Steve threw the shield, impressively enough hitting Pietro, who was forced to stop when Clint suddenly stood beside him, assisting my father in holding him back.

"Get him upstairs," Steve ordered quietly; "Veronica, are you okay?" I nodded quietly.

"Bruce, can you send the guests home? I think the party's over," Steve said darkly, making Bruce nod.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?" Steve raged loudly, making me shrink in my seat, even if it wasn't directed at me.

"I had my reasons," Pietro stated.

"Reasons to assault some random kid?" my dad asked, a lot calmer than Steve.

"He wasn't random," Pietro mumbled.

"He's right. That was James, Veronica's ex," Natasha informed from her spot on the backwards chair.

Most of us had changed out of our fancy clothes. Natasha was in everyday clothes - jeans and a shirt. My dad was still in his suit, Clint was in a tank top, Bruce in his regular, slightly oversized clothes. Pietro had, obviously, not had a chance to change, and I'd been too shaken up to change, meaning we, as well as my father, was the only ones still in our party clothes.

"That's what this was? Some extreme jealousy thing?" Clint asked.

"That's not what it was," Pietro insisted.

"Then what? What was that?" Steve asked. Pietro's eyes flickered to me.

"Nothing," he lied.

"If you can't come up with a damn good reason, we have to lock you up," Steve stated coldly.

"What? No, you don't!" I interrupted.

"Yes, we do! He assaulted a civilian!" Steve argued.

"He's right, kid. Pietro used his powers to hurt someone for no reason," my dad agreed.

"It wasn't for no reason!" Pietro insisted.

"Jealousy doesn't count," Steve mentioned; "Unless he had or was going to hurt someone, we have to lock you up for now."

"What if I know he hurt someone? For a fact?" Pietro went on. I nervously tinkered with my necklace.

"Who did he hurt?" Bruce asked calmly.

"It doesn't matter! He wasn't putting anyone in danger, you need to follow protocol, kid!" Steve intervened.

"Fine. Lock me up," Pietro agreed.

"Not fine! Don't lock him up!" I disagreed.

"What, we're just gonna put him in jail?" Bruce intervened.

"We're not gonna put him in jail, Bruce," my dad intervened.

"Then where? Fury wants him held back, and a regular room wont do since he's technically a threat now. With powers," the doctor added.

"Then let's put him in the holding cell," Steve suggested.

"Yes, put me in the holding cell!" Pietro agreed excitedly; "What's the holding cell?"

"You're not putting him in the holding cell, it's way too extreme, that thing could hold Bruce back," I decided before turning to Bruce; "No offence."

"Non taken."

"At least he'll stay in the tower this way, just be thankful for that," my dad told me as Steve motioned for Pietro to get up.

"This is bullshit," I stated coldly.

"This is what happens when you use your powers with the intention of hurting others," my dad corrected.

"You should get changed," Natasha commented. I rolled my eyes, but none the less got up and headed towards my room.