Chapter Text
“Oh hey, you guys are... early,” says Rhodey, blinking in his doorway like he’s not sure whether to invite them in or not.
Clint shrugs. “Yeah, I just figured it was better than being late.” He holds up a six-pack of beer. “I brought this and also Brave. ”
“Cool, thanks. You can put that in the kitchen, I guess. Hey, Laura.” Rhodey waves at her.
“Hey,” Laura grins. “Nice place you’ve got here.”
“Thanks.” Rhodey smiles back. “I mean, it’s functional. Hopefully it’ll do for tonight. You want anything to drink?”
“Do you have lemonade?” Laura asks. “Not alcoholic lemonade because it’s only three in the afternoon, just lemonade lemonade.”
“Sure, yeah.” Rhodey ambles off toward the kitchen. “You can throw your jacket in the closet and your shoes by the door, if you want.”
“Perfect,” Laura says. “Clint, want help with yours?” His jacket, she means, since he’s still getting over his minor injuries.
“Yeah, thanks.” He wanders back over from where he’s put the beer and offers her an arm after unzipping said jacket.
Carefully, she takes his jacket from him and hangs it, asking Rhodey, “You hear about this goof’s big heroic rescue?”
“The dog? Yeah.” Rhodey laughs. “How’s that going, by the way?”
“Dog’s still with me. No one’s claimed him yet.” Clint sighs. “He keeps stealing pizza off my plate.”
“Maybe that wouldn’t happen if you didn’t eat pizza five times a week,” Laura teases.
“Only four times,” he protests with a smirk. “Dessert pizza doesn’t count.”
“Oh, excuse me,” Laura says, holding up her hands. “It’s still more often than most people.”
“Sounds like the dog’s doing you a favor,” agrees Rhodey. “Are you just calling him ‘dog’ or…?”
“For now, yeah. Or ‘hey you’ or ‘stupid shit’ or ‘get off.’” Grinning, Clint says, “He’s not a bad dog, I just don’t want one.”
Laura catches Rhodey’s eye and stage-whispers, “The dog wants him, though.”
Natasha, opening the door at this exact moment, says idly, “You’d know about that, wouldn’t you, Laura?”
“Yes,” Laura replies without a trace of irony. “Did you bring any snacks or movies, or did you just bring your sparkling wit?”
“Just myself. That’s all you need,” replies Natasha, tossing her hair.
“So arrogant,” chides Sharon, entering and nudging Natasha’s shoulder in an attempt to express distaste (it doesn’t work very well).
“Well, you know,” Steve adds, grinning, “that’s our Natasha, confident to the last.”
“Yup,” says Natasha cheerfully. “Anyway. Sam brought a cheese plate, where do you want it, Rhodey?”
“Kitchen’s fine.”
Sam wanders in with said cheese plate and comments, “I figured one of us had to bring something that wasn’t deep-fried or covered in butter.”
“These aren’t deep-fried!” Sharon protests, holding up a bag of Oreos.
“Christ,” groans Sam.
A polite knock heralds Pepper’s entrance. “Well, I finally managed to get a babysitter,” she sighs.
“That’s a feat,” jokes Rhodey. “Beer?”
“Yes, please,” Pepper says, rolling her eyes.
Rhodey chuckles and brings her a bottle. “Alright, so I’m gonna toss in Sleeping Beauty if nobody objects? It’s good background noise as people are coming in. And then I thought maybe Lion King and Wreck-It Ralph, and Clint brought Brave.”
“Of course he did,” says Natasha, rolling her eyes fondly.
“That sounds great,” Sharon says, filling the role of “polite guest.” “Should we make ourselves comfortable, or…?”
“Yeah, go ahead. There’s the couch, and chairs and cushions for the floor and stuff.” Rhodey glances over at Pepper. “So who’d you get to take Tony duty tonight?”
“Happy is taking him to that bar party,” Pepper explains. “Bruce was doing something quiet and mellow with Mack and I’m pretty sure Howard is having some event in the house for his allegedly more mature friends, which is sure to be a disaster worth avoiding, so it was the best option.”
Natasha snorts. “Good lord. Compared to those, the Disney movie party was definitely the best option. At least you only have a couple with songs.”
“Disney musicals can be really good,” says Rhodey, mock-glaring at her. “At least I’m not showing you Home on the Range.”
“Home on the…?” asks Kara, who’s chosen a strange time to enter this conversation and room, possibly.
“Never mind,” groans Rhodey, “I don’t wanna talk about it.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Kara says, frowning. “Um, Audrey’s just getting the snacks out of her car, she said to go along ahead and say hello.”
“No, it’s fine, it was just a really bad movie.” He smiles reassuringly at her. “How’re you doing? Have a good Christmas?”
“Yeah,” she says, fussing with her hair before returning the smile. “I, ah, Karen and everyone, I spent the morning with them, and I was at Mike’s for dinner. His kid is really sweet.”
“Good. Yeah, Ace is a good kid. I’m glad you had people with you. You want anything?”
Kara falters for a moment, suddenly seeming to realize that there are other people in the room. “Water, I guess,” she says. “For now. That sounds like the best idea.”
“Okay. Want ice with that?”
“Sure,” she nods. “Uh. Hi! Everyone. Hi, everyone. Not to interrupt.”
Steve, who’s been focused on French braiding Bucky’s hair, shrugs cheerfully. “You’re fine, Kara,” he says. “All we were doing was pretending to argue.”
“Hey, so do you wanna set up a time to go to the shelter pretty soon?” Bucky asks.
“Yeah,” Kara says. “Yeah, I’m moving in in a couple of days, so maybe not this Saturday but the next? So I have time to get set up and all that.”
“Sounds good,” says Bucky.
“Yes, please,” chimes in Natasha. “So he can stop looking on all the shelter websites. I’m afraid he might come home with another dog too.”
“That’s going around,” Laura observes, smirking.
Clint sighs. “Not for long it’s not.”
Natasha rolls her eyes.
“Actually, wait a sec. Hey, Kara, you want a lab with one eye? He steals pizza.”
Kara makes a face, vaguely bewildered. “I’m… I’ll consider it?”
“Cool. I mean, he’s a nice dog, I guess, aside from the pizza thing.”
“All right, who wants cookies,” Audrey calls as she enters, carrying trays of cookies. “We made what seems like too many because that will probably be enough.”
“There’s sugar and gingerbread,” Kara explains.
“Ooh, cookies,” Sam says. “I’ll take some!”
“Said the man complaining about cookies not five minutes ago,” Sharon narrates before she goes to claim a spot on the couch.
“Homemade, not completely processed cookies,” says Sam, smirking.
“Is this a routine with you guys?” Kara asks, smirking.
“Pretty much,” says Bucky. “Banter is a common occurrence.”
“Hey, Jones, slow down,” says Luke, as Jess downs her third shot. “You still have to pay for those.”
“Family discount,” snarks Jessica with a smirk.
“Family discount doesn’t mean ‘free,’” says Luke, “or ‘no limit.’”
“At least the family discount doesn’t mean she’ll be trying to drag me to three different bars within the hour,” Trish offers cheerfully.
Jessica rolls her eyes. “Yeah, whatever, you had a good time.”
“Good in a disastrous way,” Trish corrects.
“Hey there,” says Quill, ambling up to the bar, “I see you haven’t got a drink in front of you. I can fix that for you, if you want.”
“So could my girlfriend,” Trish says, rolling her eyes. “Or my boyfriend, the bartender.”
Luke waves. “You want something?” he asks Quill, trying to sound intimidating (but the grin he’s fighting back ruins the effect).
Quill sighs. “Just a whiskey, thanks. Goddammit.”
“Oh, rejection ruin your night?” asks Jessica in a fake-pitying tone.
“No, I’m kinda used to it.”
“Good.”
“Well, it beats ‘hey, I remember you from the high school cheerleading squad, you’re still hot,’” Trish says once Quill has taken his whiskey and retreated.
Luke snorts. “Even I’m not low enough to use that.”
“Thank Christ,” says Nebula, sitting down at the bar. “Vodka tonic on the rocks?”
“Will do. Nice hair,” says Luke with a nod, turning to get her drink.
“Dye it myself.” Nebula waves Carina over, and she twirls up, giving Nebula a kiss on the cheek, then sticks her tongue out because she knows she can get away with it.
“I love your dress,” Trish tells Carina.
“It’s glittery,” says Nebula, and if she were talking about anyone else it would sound disdainful, but she keeps her tone neutral.
“It’s very appropriate for New Year’s,” Carina says, beaming. “Thank you, Trish.”
“Know what else is appropriate for New Year’s?” Jessica asks, holding up another shot.
“Damn right,” Nebula replies with a smirk, taking a sip from the drink Luke hands her. “I like your style.”
“Nebula, this is Trish and Jessica and Luke,” Carina explains quickly. “Guys, this is Nebula, she’s my girlfriend and she likes tattoos and sarcasm.”
Nebula grunts a hello, which Jessica returns. Trish makes a beleaguered face.
“Hello,” says Laura, wandering over with Cessily in tow. “You’re new here, aren’t you?” She directs this to Luke.
“Yeah, hi. I’m Luke, I’ve only been here for a week and a half. You?”
“Laura. And this is Cessily. I think Nebula and Carina have already introduced themselves. Can I have a glass of whiskey?” She turns to Cessily. “What do you want?”
“Um, I’ll have a screwdriver, I guess?” Cessily smiles a little nervously and waves at Luke with her other hand. “I don’t know that much about alcohol.”
Luke smiles. “That’s okay, you don’t have to.”
“Between him being the bartender and this one -” Trish nods at Jessica - “Being… well, herself, they’ve got the alcohol expertise covered. Probably a little too well.”
Shrugging, Jessica says, “I’m making friends, see?”
Gamora approaches, raising an eyebrow. “Was that a requirement?”
Jessica snorts. “According to her, yeah.” She grins over at Trish. “Says I needed more friends besides her and Luke.”
“This is certainly one place to make them,” Carina offers with a grin like she thinks she’s being helpful.
“Or something like that,” says Luke, smirking. “You want anything, Carina?”
“I like things that taste like cake or strawberries,” she says. “Possibly both at the same time.”
“Pretty sure I can find something for you,” he chuckles.
“Hey Gamora,” says Nebula, in a way that means she knows she’s being an asshole, “where’s your boyfriend?”
“My what?” Gamora asks, because she’s too startled by the word to think of something witty.
Conveniently, Mike enters just then, coming straight over to them. “Hey,” he says with a wave.
“That one.” Nebula nods.
Gamora’s eyes go wide, because she’s definitely too startled by that.
“What?” Mike asks, grinning. “What’d I do?”
“Nebula seems to think you and Gamora are dating,” says Laura with a shrug. “I don’t have enough evidence either way yet to come to a conclusion.”
“Thank you for asking us along,” Maya (who’s the youngest in this group by a few years and feels it very distinctly) says, staring around the restaurant with wide eyes.
Victoria shrugs. “Even I have enough of a heart to steer someone away from the Olive Garden on New Year’s Eve,” she says, the implication being, of course, that this privilege extends to Maya and Maria because they’re at least something like tolerable to her.
Maria snorts and replies, “Well, it’s not like we’d be even doing that otherwise, so I second the thanks. This is a nicer place than I’ve been to in a while.”
“Oh, that’s her doing,” says Isabelle, running a hand down Victoria’s arm. “She’s the classy one. I’m just along for the ride.”
“You’re very good at playing along,” Victoria promises, smirking.
“Gross,” Maya mouths to Maria, which makes Maria laugh.
“So how was your Christmas?” she asks, once she’s recovered. “I mean, forgive me for assuming you spent it together.”
“Together and blissfully un-Catholic,” Victoria says. “Which is better than alone and blissfully un-Catholic, as would describe my recent Christmases past.”
“I can imagine,” replies Maria wryly. “Same for us, actually, sans the un-Catholic. Well, my brother’s family is non-religious in general, but still. Haven’t had the misfortune of Catholic Christmases.”
Isabelle rolls her eyes. “Lucky you. Heavy on the tradition, light on the enjoyment factor.”
“And incredibly awkward for those of us who might want to deviate from the set norm,” Victoria adds.
“I’m never happier that my mom is only overbearing about if I’m getting enough vitamins and spiritual exercise than when I hear about shitty family holidays,” Maya offers. “The Tumblr posts about it, just litanies of nightmares like I can’t even imagine.”
That makes Isabelle chuckle. “At least it’s behind us now. And you?”
“I was, uh, well, I was planning on spending the day alone, like usual, but I wound up meeting Maria at her brother’s place,” Maya says. “It was cute. Weirdly normal.”
“Yeah, my niece just adored her,” adds Maria with a grin. “I mean, she loves anyone I bring with me, but y’know. That’s just usually in a different context.” She reaches over to squeeze Maya’s hand.
Of course, that makes Maya blush. “Well, I’m still glad she did,” she says. “I usually freak out with kids, so. Welcome surprise, I guess.”
“I’m so glad that so few of us have that impulse,” Victoria says, referring to their usual mall crowd and also childrearing.
“Oh, I love Aly to death, but I can give her back at the end of the day,” says Maria. “I wouldn’t want to be responsible for a kid twenty-four-seven.”
“And if they turned out to suck, I don’t know what I’d do,” Maya adds. “With other people’s kids you can at least watch for that kind of thing before you involve yourself.”
Isabelle nods. “Good point. I don’t even really deal with kids at work, and that’s fully on purpose.”
“Yeah, can’t blame you,” says Maria. “I mostly get idiot teens trying to shoplift and that’s bad enough.”
Victoria raises her glass, smirking. “To delightedly misanthropic queer childlessness.”
Maria laughs and taps her glass against Victoria’s. “Indeed.”
“So you should totally come over and play Super Smash Bros with us sometime,” Skye’s saying.
The guy she’s been talking to at the bar looks a little surprised. “Uh, okay! Yeah, that sounds like fun. Haven’t played that in a long time.”
“Yeah, me neither, really. My girlfriend is terrible at it.”
“What am I terrible at?” Jemma asks, approaching with some vaguely fruity drink in hand.
“Oh, Super Smash Bros,” replies Skye, reaching to squeeze her hand. “I love you, but it’s true. This is Joey and he works at the arcade and I invited him over to play sometime.”
“Hi,” Joey says, grinning and waving.
Jemma waves back, pleasantly buzzed enough to not take offense to that. “Hi!” she exclaims. “You should. I’m always Princess Peach and I am in fact terrible at it but it’s okay because I’m so cute.”
That makes Joey laugh a bit. “I mean, I wouldn’t know, but I’ll take your word for it. Skye sure seems to think so.”
“Yup.” Skye kisses Jemma’s cheek. “Where’s Bobbi and the boys?”
“Fitz is getting a table, Trip is guarding him from bar chaos, and Bobbi -”
“I’m right here,” Bobbi announces, coming up behind Jemma and wrapping an arm around her waist. “Making sure at least some of you enjoy this terrible party. Introductions?”
“Bobbi, Joey,” says Skye, gesturing to the appropriate people. “Joey I just met, and Bobbi is our, uh, third. Joey just moved here and works at the arcade.”
“Hey,” says Joey. “Nice to meet you. Are you at the mall too?”
“David’s Bridal, which is a hilarious disaster,” Bobbi says casually. “The mall social life is much better than the mall professional life.” This with a nod to the girls.
Chuckling, Joey replies, “Well, that’s good, I guess. I didn’t have a lot of friends in Seattle, except my ex, and he, well... is my ex now. So.”
“Least your ex isn’t also your unwilling frequent bartender,” Bobbi chirps.
“You sound like you’re not just speaking hypothetically.”
“Alas, no,” she sighs dramatically. “The Applebee's across the street from the mall? Frequent, convenient gathering place? My ex-husband tends bar there. And he’s a bitter sort of man.”
“Definitely an arse,” Jemma agrees.
Joey’s eyes widen a little. “God, I’m sorry. That sounds horrible.”
“I mean, he’s not that bad,” says Skye. “Just sighs a lot and rolls his eyes when we’re there.”
“Compared to my other local ex, whose only crime is staring at me like he’s recently been electrocuted whenever I do something noteworthy, it’s not a picnic,” Bobbi shrugs.
“My ex was just a health nut,” shrugs Joey. “I mean, I eat okay, and I ride my motorcycle a lot, but that’s it really.”
“You have a bike?” Skye asks, perking up. “That’s awesome!”
He shrugs modestly. “I mean, I like it.”
“Hey,” says a new voice, belonging to one Tony Stark, who has ambled over to sit himself on Joey’s other side. “Couldn’t help but overhear you like bikes.”
Skye rolls her eyes and makes a face at Bobbi and Jemma. “Good grief,” Jemma mutters.
“Uh, yeah, I do,” says Joey, confused. “Who are you?”
“I’m Tony. And you are?”
“Joey.”
“Haven’t seen you around here before. You just move here or something? Need someone to show you around?”
“Yeah, I’m new, I guess,” says Joey with a chuckle. “Skye and Bobbi were just telling me about how stuff is around here.”
“Yeah, they do that.” Tony shrugs. “So, you in the market for a riding partner? I mean, I haven’t been on a bike in a while but I learn quickly.”
“I, uh…” Joey blinks.
“Are you really talking about bicycles?” Bobbi asks.
“I mean, however you want to interpret it,” says Tony, trying way too hard to act nonchalant.
“Been awhile since I’ve been hit on in a bar,” replies Joey with a laugh. “You seem nice, but I’m gonna have to pass. I don’t wanna rush into anything.”
There’s a shadow of disappointment on Tony’s face, but he quickly recovers (or at least, looks like he does) and nods. “Okay. Well, like I said, name’s Tony Stark if you change your mind.” He oh-so-casually drops one of his business cards on the counter in front of Joey.
Bobbi waits until Tony is wandering away to say, “Good call.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah, he’s the resident poor little rich boy,” says Skye. “Not the worst or anything, but kind of an asshole. I guess he’s already gone through all the girls in town who would have him and decided to expand his horizons.”
“Or he’s only recently realized his horizons’ full extent,” Jemma shrugs. “But he’s still a creep.”
“His friend is dating my best guy friend and there has been drama,” Bobbi says.
“Oh. I guess I dodged a bullet, then.”
“You really did,” nods Skye.
“Who has been shot at?” asks Drax, who came up during Tony’s flirting and has been nursing a beer a few stools down. “Do you require medical attention?”
Skye snickers. “No, no, it’s fine. Tony was flirting with Joey here and we were telling him that saying no was a good idea.”
Drax nods. “I see. Stark is an excellent drinking companion and party host, but from what I have seen, he would be a terrible person to be in a relationship with.”
“So I heard,” says Joey. “You are?”
“Drax.” Drax puts out his hand. “I am not actually going to shake your hand, as I am told that’s very rude, but I will clasp it and move it up and down in a friendly gesture of greeting.”
Joey laughs. “Okay.” He takes Drax’s hand and yelps when Drax’s handshake turns out to be very enthusiastic. “Nice to meet you, Drax, I’m Joey.”
“I overheard that you recently moved here,” says Drax, “and that you like motorcycles. I have never ridden a motorcycle before. Is it an enjoyable experience?”
As Joey starts to explain, Skye nudges Bobbi and Jemma. “Let’s let them talk,” she says, eyes gleaming.
“Oi!” calls Fitz, waving. “Table over here!”
“We’d better go join,” Jemma says, beginning to wander in that direction.
Skye calls a goodbye to Joey, who nods in response before continuing his sentence.
They’re in the middle of “Hakuna Matata” when Rhodey pokes Clint’s arm and says, “So, how’s it going?”
“Uh. Fine?” Clint asks, looking completely baffled.
“You know what I mean,” says Rhodey, making exaggerated head motions toward Laura.
“Tasha said he sent her a string of heart emojis when Laura spent the night after his party,” says Bucky quietly. He’s got a shit-eating grin on his face.
“She showed you that? Ah, jesus,” sighs Clint. “Look, she was too tired to drive and so was I. That’s all.”
Rhodey chuckles. “Sure, Clint. Sure.”
“Also, it’s not like he’s been in any condition to do anything… canoodley,” Laura chimes in, because she’s heard the whole conversation.
Clint puts his head in his hands. Natasha snickers.
“More alcohol,” Sharon suggests. “I’ll do a run, who wants?”
Sam, Steve, and Natasha raise their hands, as well as Clint and Laura.
“Preferences, or just have at?”
“Beer’s fine,” says Sam, and Steve and Clint nod.
When “Can You Feel The Love Tonight?” begins, Audrey (who’s nursing a beer of her own) announces, “In the stage production, this number is essentially an erotic aerial tree ballet.”
Bucky snorts. “A what now?”
“There are dancers suspended from the ceiling doing an erotic ballet in the fake forest,” Audrey says. “The show is weird. At one point Scar very dramatically sniffs Nala’s crotch.”
“Jesus,” says Clint. “And this is for kids?”
“Not necessarily,” says Rhodey quickly. “It’s an all-ages show, but it is darker than the Disney movie. And I mean, it’s all based on Hamlet anyway.”
“You know what makes Hamlet better?” Sharon asks. “Everyone being read by girls so it’s very very queer.”
Kara giggles. “Oh my,” she murmurs. “That sounds…”
“One of the advantages of all-girls’ schools,” Sharon chirps. “Accidentally queering all your favorite classic literature.”
“Or least favorite, I imagine,” Pepper chimes in.
Natasha snorts. “I never had the patience for it.”
“I never had the patience for any of that,” says Sam with a grin. “Books are fine. Books by dead white dudes? Nah.”
“Dead, straight, complaining, entitled cis white dudes,” Pepper corrects with a smile. “How many male novelists does it take to screw in a lightbulb? War is hell.”
Laura cracks up and raises her bottle in a silent toast.
“Brother, come and have a drink!” coaxes Thor. “You can’t spend all evening sulking.”
“I can and I will,” Loki replies petulantly.
“What’s the issue now?” Darcy (currently wrapped around Rogue) asks.
“He thinks New Year’s Day is an arbitrarily chosen and ridiculous holiday,” says Sif with a roll of her eyes.
Fandral laughs. “I suspect he’s more upset that he won’t have anyone to kiss at midnight.”
Sif pretends not to have heard him and stares very intently at her napkin.
“I come bearing shots,” Linnea says, nodding back to Luke at the bar before she sets a tray on the table. “And water, for our DDs.”
“Thank you, Linnea,” Hannah says sweetly.
Hogun takes the other water with a grateful nod.
“Hey Rogue,” says MJ, wandering over holding a drink, “guess what happened?”
“I couldn’t begin to guess.”
“So there’s a new guy, Joey? And I guess Tony tried to score with him, but Joey said no, and then once he was gone Drax came over. And they’ve been talking for like half an hour.”
“Score for Drax!” Darcy exclaims, grinning. “Also, I am not surprised in the slightest. Tony’s not exactly a super-catch.”
“It’s a damn shame, he could be useful if he tried,” Jane sighs. “But he’d rather score than do anything and just reserve his academic talents for bragging rights. Yuck.”
Melinda smirks. “Good for new guy for avoiding it.”
“I didn’t know Drax liked men,” says Fandral.
“How would you, when he’s never hit on you?” Sif teases.
“A fair point.”
Matt, Foggy, Karen and Claire enter the bar, Claire waving at Jessica. “Can I have a beer?” she asks Luke. “You three want anything?”
“Tequila!” Karen exclaims, grinning. “Happy New Year.”
From over in the corner, Loki moans and calls, “The designation of a ‘new year’s day’ is entirely arbitrary and makes no sense to be placed in the middle of winter.”
“Still a good reason to have tequila,” Karen calls back.
“I’ll have a beer too,” says Foggy, and Matt nods.
“Coming right up,” replies Luke.
Jessica looks them over. “You guys look happy.” She sounds vaguely disgusted, but Claire knows she means well.
“I don’t know why they wouldn’t,” Trish says, raising an eyebrow.
Jessica shrugs. “Law school still kicking your ass, Murdock?”
“Unfortunately,” Matt replies with a grin. “But we’re gonna pull through, right, Fog?”
Foggy nods and grabs one of the beers Luke slides over to them. “To ancient times and distant music!” He and Matt clink their beers together and take sips.
Karen giggles. “You guys are so weird.”
“And yet, you live with us and spend eighty percent of your time with us,” says Foggy, grinning.
Claire smirks. “Sucker.”
“I never said I minded that you guys were so weird,” Karen says. “Just observing. Since I have eighty percent of my time’s worth of evidence to back it up.”
Matt smiles. “Fair enough. And how are you all doing tonight?”
“Perfectly comfortable,” Trish says, as if that’s an appropriate answer for the situation.
“Just fine,” says Mike, taking a sip of his drink.
“All in all it’s been an acceptable night at the bar,” Gamora says. “No karaoke yet, so that’s a definite plus.”
Jessica snorts. “Jesus, I hope there’s no karaoke. That’s the last thing we need.”
“Oh, you’ll be especially happy to be spared Quill singing karaoke,” Gamora adds.
“That’s the guy from earlier, right?” Jessica asks. “Good. He’s enough of a pain in the ass when he’s just talking.”
“Imagine being business partners with him,” Gamora sighs. “I’m just lucky he’s next door most of the time.”
Luke chuckles. “Could be worse, yeah. How’s the shop doing?”
“It’s doing all right,” Gamora shrugs. “Not quite time for the January-February rush of lovers looking for tattoos and kids having been inspired to rebel by holidays with their shit families, but it’s all right.”
“Is that a thing?” Mike asks, looking amused. “I had no idea.”
“The former more than the latter,” Gamora says. “Ink is a way of saying ‘I love you forever’ that you can’t drop down the sink, I guess. Always seems like a horrible idea to me, but they’re paying.”
“Yeah, that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen,” replies Mike cheerfully.
“Oh, it’s hilarious,” chimes in Nebula, “especially if they come in later wanting a coverup job. I mean, she’ll do it, but it’s a pain in the ass.”
“Hello everyone!” Drax says, coming over with Joey in tow. “This is Joey! He and I have been talking for a long time. He rides motorcycles and I am convincing him he should get a tattoo.”
“Hey,” says Joey, grinning. “So you must be Gamora, huh?”
“That’s me,” Gamora says, smirking. “A tattoo of what?”
“Oh, I dunno, I’ve never really thought about it.” Joey shrugs. “Drax is really convincing though. He says you guys do great work.”
Nebula rolls up her jacket to show off her robot arm. “Drax is doing my sleeve for me.”
“Woah.” Joey’s eyes widen. “That’s awesome!”
“He did my wings for me, too,” Gamora says, and she’s looking more at Mike than Joey when she adds, “but only a few people get to see those.”
Mike grins kind of shyly and takes another sip of his drink. Nebula rolls her eyes.
“Did I miss something?” Carina asks Nebula quietly.
“Oh, they’re just dancing around each other again,” murmurs Nebula. “Shit better happen soon.”
“Where do you work, Joey?” Trish asks, because that’s a safe topic of conversation.
“Oh, I just started at the arcade last week. It’s not glamorous or anything, but it pays the bills. You?”
“I hostess at Applebee's and in my free time I run a podcast,” she says.
“Oh, what about? I like podcasts.”
“Lifestyle, which is a nice word for whatever the hell I feel like,” she chirps.
“Yeah, she got some decent guests back when we lived in New York, but thanks to my stalker ex, we had to move,” says Jessica. “So hopefully you can find somebody here for that.”
Trish shrugs cheerfully. “Hopefully, but you being safe is more important than my podcast,” she says. Jessica turns to give her the smallest genuine smile before she pastes on her usual indifferent face.
“Thanks for a nice dinner,” says Maria. “And alcohol. Happy new year.”
“You too,” Victoria says. “Thank you for an evening of conversation that wasn’t inane in a room where we could actually hear ourselves think.”
Isabelle chuckles. “Fun plans for the rest of the evening, you two?”
Maya goes pink. “Just… things,” she says. “Probably watching movies about murder or something.”
“Uh huh.” Isabelle smirks and adds, “Well, enjoy that. We’ll be having our own fun.”
“Fun is good,” Maya says.
Maria nudges her with her shoulder. “That’s the wine talking?”
Maya shrugs.
“You’re sort of cute together,” Victoria offers. “Don’t tell anyone I said so.”
“I’ll take it to my grave,” says Maria with a wink.
Rhodey’s getting up to put in Brave, and half of the guests have arranged themselves in snuggle piles - Clint and Laura, Steve and Bucky, and Kara’s even been pulled into a loose cuddling arrangement with Natasha and Sharon.
“Well, this is charming,” Audrey murmurs, grinning.
“Y’all are gross,” says Rhodey with a grin.
“And proud of it,” murmurs Natasha.
“I actually haven’t seen this one yet,” Kara says. “The movie. I kept meaning to, but.”
“It’s really good,” calls Clint. “It’s about an archer who doesn’t want to marry anybody and there’s magic and shit. I won’t spoil it, though.”
“Magic and shit,” Sharon repeats. “That’s one way of putting it.”
Clint shrugs. “Being vague on purpose, y’know.”
“And she’s a redhead,” Pepper adds. “Actual somewhat-realistic redhead, not that primary color Little Mermaid stuff. Which, nothing against Ariel, but.” She sips her beer and shrugs.
Natasha nods. “And mother-daughter stuff. That doesn’t do anything for me, but it’s cool to have a movie about it.”
“Aw, yeah, I bet,” Kara nods.
“Doesn’t suffer from ‘dead Disney parent’ syndrome, so that’s nice,” Audrey agrees.
Kara makes a sympathetic face, though who the sympathy is aimed at is unclear. “That’s good too.”
“Okay, I’m pushing play now,” says Rhodey. “Cut the chatter or take it outside so Kara can watch.”
Pepper raises an eyebrow at Natasha; Natasha smirks back.
“Five minutes!” yells Tony.
“Thank god,” mutters Happy.
“Rock-paper-scissors for who gets midnight?” Ian says to Rogue, surprisingly cheerful.
Rogue laughs. “Sure, sounds good.” She puts out her fist and smirks.
“Look at you two compromising,” Darcy hums.
“Can we get out of here by 12:05?” Jane asks Thor.
Thor nods. “Of course, my love. Hogun, would you be willing to drive us home?” Hogun nods agreements.
Fandral, who has drunk enough that he’s currently exhibiting the less charming aspects of his personality, is leaning over the table to smirk at Loki. “And where’s your lady fair?” he asks.
“I don’t know who you could possibly be referring to,” sniffs Loki.
“Lorelei, of course! I haven’t seen her around in ages. Where is she?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea.”
“Come now, Fandral, leave him be,” says Thor. “You have your own lady to attend.”
Linnea, finishing her cocktail, rolls her eyes and waves.
“Ah, you’re so right,” says Fandral, going over to her.
“You sure know how to romance them,” Linnea drawls.
“You have other options,” teases Sif.
Linnea glances from Sif to Hannah to Claire and Matt across the room. “Taken or straight or taken,” she shrugs. “This is acceptable.”
“My sympathies.” Sif reaches for Melinda’s hand, who lets her take it without protest and even smiles a little about it.
“Why’s your friend dating such an ass?” Karen asks Claire, nodding in Linnea’s direction.
Claire rolls her eyes. “I don’t claim to understand anything she does. Especially him.”
“Maybe he’s as good as he likes to brag at… certain things,” Karen suggests.
“Doubtful,” Matt replies. “But certainly possible.”
Karen shrugs. “People are weird,” she says. “Wanna be my midnight kiss, Foggy?”
“Happy to do it,” he says cheerfully.
“Two minutes!”
Carina finishes her drink. “Here’s to another… something,” she says to Nebula.
Nebula snorts. “Yeah.” But she also squeezes Carina’s hand.
Mike and Gamora are standing next to each other awkwardly. “Um,” he says, glancing away. “So.”
“So,” she repeats, making a face.
“D’you, uh…” He pauses. “I feel like an idiot saying it. Are you a kissing at midnight person?”
“I’ve honestly never thought about it,” Gamora says.
“Oh, me neither,” he says quickly, “but, uh…”
“One minute!”
“-wouldyouwanna?” It comes out as one word, and he feels ridiculous, like he’s back in high school again.
Gamora’s eyes go wider than she’d like to admit. “Kiss you?” she asks, because it’s clearly something that needs to be clarified (it’s not).
“Uh. Yeah. I mean if you don’t want to that’s okay, but…”
“Thirty seconds!”
“Oh my god,” Carina whispers, nudging Nebula.
Nebula’s watching her sister and Mike, absolutely fascinated.
“Ten!” Darcy shouts, and the rest of the bar starts counting along.
“Happy new year!” yells Tony, once the countdown’s over.
Shyer than she’d like to admit, Gamora steps forward and takes Mike’s hand, nodding, and Mike leans in to kiss her gently on the lips.
Nebula’s too busy kissing Carina to pay attention when it starts, but when she pulls back and they’re still kissing, she claps (a bit sarcastically).