Issue 20: A Well Deserved Rest

[dakota]

( Three days after returning from confronting Baron Zemo... )

[Captain America]

As he waited out in front of his building, Steve Rogers had several things to contemplate as he noticed his ride was running late. Clint was supposed to be joining him, but hadn't shown up yet despite he had been the one that had set the evening out up when Tony Stark had let them know he was coming into town for a couple of days on business.

The sound of a performance engine howled up the street as a black sports car roared up the block and screeched to a halt in front of the apartment building. The gull-wing door scissored open and Tony leaned over while slipping off his sunglasses. "Barton called, he's going to meet us later, something about needing a pole to help Melissa prod the new kids out for the night. From what I hear, this batch might finally be enough to give you gray hairs"

He grinned as he leaned so he could look up at the building before lowering his sunglasses to look over them, “I can’t believe you still live here, I know you can do a lot better.”


[Spiderman]

An evening out was what Peter and Mary Jane needed after the events of his joining the Avengers had kept them apart much more than she liked. MJ had convinced him to try a newer restaurant Sotello's not far from the Bugle offices that she had heard great reviews about. Peter had heard of it too at work, and knew that it was expensive. MJ's argument had been that she had been saving a little bit each week to afford the night out, finally convincing Peter.

As they entered Sotello's, the maître di turned up his nose at Peter's suit as he asked, " do you have a reservation?"

"Yes we do," MJ answered, "Parker, party of two."

"Very good," came the reply after checking his list. He led the Parkers through the maze of tables and Peter recognized several faces of New York's upper echelon. One empty table they passed caught his attention by the kitchen, with a sign on it that read

"Reserved. Murdock (2)"

The maître di pulled out a chair for MJ to sit at a table on the far side of the dining room and once she was seated, laid two menus on the table and left them alone. Mary Jane smiled," This place is so wonderful."

As Peter looked at the menu, he could see the prices were worse than he expected.



[Daredevil]

The cab wasn't the worst he'd ever taken, but the driver's garlic breath was overpowering to Matt's enhanced senses and the radio was too loud for his liking. The drive however was pleasant enough that Matt could follow the route and knew they were nearly to the Avenger's mansion when the driver spoke," Hey Mack, this must be the lady you said we were picking up?"

Matt could "see" it was indeed Tabitha, but she seemed different. She was fidgety in the elevated pumps she wore, and constantly moving while adjusting the hem of her dress. It was very clear that she was uncomfortable as she kept looking back at the Avenger’s Mansion behind her, as if contemplating going back inside.

Matt also caught a wisp of perfume he had detected Songbird wearing before as the driver turned around, “No offense Mack, but that’s some looker you scored tonight. You getting the door for her or me?”





[Aura and She Hulk]

"I'm telling you this will be fun." Melissa said, looking at Jennifer to agree. "Tally, you said you wanted to get out and do normal stuff, so we're going show you a good time tonight. Nightclubs are fun. You might even meet someone there. We just have to keep Jenn away from the karaoke microphone." She smirked.

Hawkeye walked past the three ladies, a brazen smile on his face as he slipped on a worn leather jacket. "Clint, what are you up to? I thought you were picking up Cap to meet Stark?"

Clint shrugged as he headed for the door. "Tony wanted to pick him up. Erik and I are meeting them afterward when they finish whatever Tony has planned for them. All he would tell me was Steve will have fun, and that if anything fouls up, I'm getting the blame."



[Wolverine & Shadowcat]

It had hardly been a warm welcome home at the Xavier's School for the Gifted, finally boiling down to the confrontation that nearly everyone in the school knew would happen.

"Logan, what gives?" Scott Summers asked, his arms folded across his chest as he leaned against the kitchen counter. "Bad enough you run off to play Avenger when we need you here, and now," he motioned towards Kitty," you've dragged Kitty into your adventures too. Bad enough when SHIELD lured her off, but now this."

Piotr stood up behind Kitty, and placed a hand on Kitty's shoulder," That is not fair, Scott. I think it is wonderful that Captain America would accept Kitty into the new Avengers, even if it means I hardly get to see her."

Scott scowled," That's fine, but I need to know where loyalties lie. If the X-men and Avengers both need you, can I count on you? Or worse, if we end up at odds, where do you stand?"

[doc]

"It's home. I grew up in a building about three blocks from here." As he slides in.

[sasqaricious]

Tally looks at the two girls a little curious. "X-eee always said I am not old enough to go to the bar yet and would not be allowed if she had anything to say about it. Then again she is not here so I guess you two would no best. I just hope I don't have to wear one of those stupid hologram thingees and can go naturally. It just seems so unfair. But I alos have nothing to wear at all really. I mean since we got here it has been one mission after another. This will actually be nice." She says seemingly still unsure but hopeful.

[lwcoyote]

The confrontation with Scott had Kitty's hackles up a bit, but she knew better than to 'let-loose', as it were. When she felt Piotr's hand on her shoulder, Kitty tensed up for a moment, then slowly let herself relax, reaching up a hand to give his a squeeze of appreciation.

"Scott... I don't think I was anything more than a guest. Maybe they let me come along cause of..." she hesitates. "Cause I helped find Tabitha." the young mutant finishes quietly. "I'm back here, now, that should answer your question shouldn't it?"

[Dome]

Matt had sat quietly through the drive thinking about what he was getting into by getting involved with Tabby. At least she could hold her own in a situation, any misgivings he had went away when he "saw" Tabby waiting for him, as the cab stopped he opens the door and as he climbs out, "I'll get it for her. She is right outside"

He steps out of the vehicle and stands. Pulling his cane he extends it for the drivers benefit, and makes his way toward Tabitha, "Tabby do you know how much I wish my eyes worked right now," he says again for the cabbie's benefit. Closing the distance and whispering he says, "If they did, I would still need sunglasses to protect me from your radiance."

[foxx]

"Hey, I totally rock at karaoke." She was in her smaller, more compact form now. She agree not to draw too much attention to their outing and that meant the emerald party animal probably needed to be put away.

"And having nothing to wear will not be a problem. We have plenty of outfits here in the mansion you can try on."

[dakota]

[Daredevil]

Tabitha's trepidation faded as she heard Matt's voice, and he could sense her temperature rise a little as she blushed at the compliment. " Mr. Murdock, are you trying to butter me up?" She adjusted her dress and then sputtered," Why I listened to Clint and put on a get up like this is beyond me. "

[She Hulk and Aura]

Melissa laughed, " Jenn, you're proof that practice doesn't always make perfect. Bet we have fun doing it , right?" She watched Clint and Erik heading out the door chuckling. " I think Cap is in for an interesting evening. Oh well, so are we. Tally, relax, the place we're going to Jenn and I have been to before and, well," she glanced at She Hulk," they are plenty tolerant of people that are a little different. And in exchange, we've helped out a time or two when the bouncers got in trouble."

[Captain America]

As the door swung down, Tony grinned as he shoved the Pagani into gear, spinning the cars tires as he pulled away. "Relax would you? That's your problem Steve, always uptight, on duty. you need to live a little, lighten up." Tony was looking at Cap more than he was looking at the road.


[Wolverine & Shadowcat]

"Does it?" Scott replied, folding his arms and then looking at Logan,"And what about you? We you just visiting jumping all over the place with the Avengers too?"


(spidey and Wolvie join in with)

[foxx]

Jen waves a dismissive hand at the comment about her karaoke abilities with a laugh and listens to what Melissa is saying.

"Melissa is right. This place doesn't mind the unusual. Really, you'll have to try hard to really stand out." Jen laughs lightly, adding, "And I should know."

[sasqaricious]

"OK that is good to know. But that still leaves the problem of having nothing that normal people wear out. I don't know if that matters or not. The only things I have to wear are what the team gave me and all the stuff that X-eee considered proper and not what she wore for myself. Hopefully that works as my costume probably would not be good." Tally responds to the two ladies less tentatively and seemingly filled with a bit of hope.

[doc]

Steve barely raises an eyebrow at Tony's reckless driving. "I do know how to have fun, you know."

[HSummers]

As the maître di turns to lead them to their table, Peter looks down at his suit and checks to make sure everything's fine before looking back at MJ with hoping that he isn't disappointing her with his current getup. “You're sure you don't want to...” His voice trailed off as he passed by the Murdock reservation card. “stay here forever? This restaurant is great! I'm gonna have such a good time.” Pulling out his own chair and sitting down, Peter looks at the menu and just says “I hope you saved enough, MJ.”

[Dome]

Matt smiles, "I'm just telling the truth. I didn't know I had to butter you up, I suppose I should start working on that."

"Do you know how special I feel that you went to so much trouble for me? I'm the luckiest man alive. If you want to change though I understand, I want you to be comfortable, although we may have to cancel our reservations and make other arrangements. The place I setup is kinda picky on dress," he steps back and holds out his arms, "thus the suit," he adds indicating the hand tailored high end black suit he is wearing, "it is black right? I specifically said black, and he said it was black, but I had to take his word for it. Its not green is it? I hate green."

His smile genuine as he tries to lighten her mood with his joke.

[lwcoyote]

Kitty's face darkens with anger at Scott's reply, a low growl briefly escaping. "Yes it does, although if this is the way you're going to start treating us maybe I *should* go back!" she snaps in reply.

Giving Piotr's hand another squeeze, Kitty then pulls away and phases her body, pushing past/through Scott (deliberately) and then through a wall, heading roughly towards the garage, her anger simmering.

[yendor]

Snorts opening the fridge, diplomatically ducking the question by doing so, grabs a beer, closes the door, pops it open before speaking. “I didn’t drag her into anything, she came along on her own. Needed me while I was gone? Why, did you upset another woman?”

[To Scott’s Loyalties bit]
“If it comes down to it, I’m wherever I’m needed most. There’s a reason you’re a leader of the X-Men.” Pauses, taking a long pull. “As fer where I’d stand if we faced off, either over your unconscious mug, or Cap’s.”

[To jumping all over the place, and Kitty’s angry storming off]
“Had to. Trying to chase down some leads on some opposition. What, you’d rather have me let some villain go unchallenged and cause trouble?” Seeing Kitty storm off, kept help the smirk. “I see what ya mean by needing me here, but ya do know she can pass right through me and slap you a good one, right?”

[dakota]

[Wolverine and Kitty]

Scott frowned slightly at Logan response, but turned as Kitty phased through him and paused a minute. Colossus spoke up, "I'll talk with Kitty, that way I don't stop you two from beating on each other."

Cyclops turn towards Logan and shoulders slumped a bit,"That isn't what I meant. It's just things have been a little busy here too, and we could have used you here. We only got back last night after a run in with Sinister that didn't go so well. Somehow he got his hands on DNA from us in the future and was trying to clone his own X-men. It gets a little unnerving fighting yourselves and it didn't go so well. Jean is down in medical trying to help the Professor with Hank and Ororo, they took the worst of it." Scott folded his arms and leaned back against the counter, and as he did, Logan could sense why the leader of the X-Men was so on guard, he was hurting much more than he was letting on. " I guess what I'm getting at Logan is things aren't good right now, so if we get in a situation and I have to call you and Kitty away from the Avengers, what kind of response am I going to get?"


"Kitty, wait!" Came a caring call after Shadowcat on her way to the garage. Piotr was running a bit, trying to catch up to her head start. "Please, don't run away mad. Scott is worried because some of the others got hurt battling Mr.Sinister and you know how he blames himself." Once he caught up, he took Kitty's hands in his," I think it is wonderful you are with the Avengers, but I think you did it for the wrong reasons." He paused a moment and looked her in the eyes. " So tell me, what is she like then?"


[Spiderman]

"Relax Tiger," Mary Jane laughed as Peter reacted, " I've been saving for this for a while. We'll be fine."

A waiter came to their table and asked," May I get you a bottle of wine?"

MJ gave Peter a look, and then asked," Can we see the winellist?"

"Of course, madam." The waiter said, and went to collect a seperate wine menu.

As the waiter departed, someone brushed passed Peter's chair nudging it as he went by, "'scuse us, comin through." One of them said as three men in Armani's as they helped themselves to a large table near the back of the room.


[Daredevil]

"Would you stop."Tabitha half chuckled blushing even more,"It's black, or really dark blue at least, I can't tell. I guess if the place you want to go is that picky I can suffer through it. And that's not fair, you wear suit for work all the time. I've had to wear a dress twice since I moved here. Before that I hadn't worn one since I was twelve, they aren't exactly practical back home. "

As she got into the cab and slid across the seat, she asked," So where exactly are we going anyways?" She asked, clearly changing the subject.


[She Hulk and Aura]

"Come on, we'll find you something." Melissa said, beckoning Tally to follow. It took twenty minutes, but they found an outfit that fit Aura that wasn't one of Janet's wild designs. "There, now we can go. We'll have to take you shopping and get you some things of your own those."She looked at Jenn as they headed for the door. " We have an excuse to go shopping, should drag Tabby with too if she survives her date. Melissa chuckled, tossing She-Hulk the keys. "The Warehouse is waiting, ladies. "


[Captain America]

"Beating up neo nazis and killer robots is not having fun." Tony scolded as his attention shifted so he narrowly avoided a car stopped in front of them. "I mean get out and relax. "He sped up again as he kept going. "Clint wanted to go target shooting in some field with a couple six packs. Can you imagine? This is going to be alot more fun."Tony smirked as he stopped in front of a small building, it's sign reading Night Moves. "This should be much more entertaining."