I am Love [benefit event set-up - Tuesday evening]

[playboy_philanthropist]

Happy dropped them all off at the Norwood Club in the larger Rolls Royce Phantom a few minutes after the 6:30 supposed start time of the Help by Design event for the I AM Love campaign. The weather was getting that fall chill to it, made worse by the humidity in the air. Without rain in the immediate forecast, a few heat lamps had been added to the outside table areas for some warmth.

Inside there were tables set up along the edges of the rooms, covered with various silent charity items from framed artwork to jewelry to vip tickets to events along with their numbers, descriptions, and sign up sheets. There was also a few racks of clothing also for option. Waitstaff weaved through the crowds with plates of hors d'oeuvres and glasses of champagne. A DJ was playing music although it was a little hard to find a dance floor through all the mingling people. The large table in what was usually the dining room of the club had been moved out so that the room could be turned into a pop-up spa.

Tony had gotten them a VIP table, with reserved seating for the four of them and a private bottle of champagne. Being so used to these sort of events, he knew the benefit of having a guaranteed place to sit.

Comments

[capsteve_rogers]

In a way, this was going to be like playing a part. Steve could be himself mostly, but he had to remember that public Steve hadn't shared kisses with Clint, and that they were just friends instead of whatever it was that they were becoming to each other. Since they hadn't actually gone out in public together as more than friends, it wasn't too tough to remember the lines that needed to be in place. True, he kept thinking about reaching for Clint's hand or telling him how handsome he looked tonight, but he hadn't actually done any of those things yet. Which was good because Tony already knew about his sexuality, and Pepper was a real smart dame and would definitely notice anything out of place,

Fortunately, the Armani suit that he'd taken out of his closet to wear tonight had good pockets, and he had just taken to putting his hands in those whenever he felt the urge to reach for Clint. The club where the event was being held was pretty ritzy, and Steve had a moment of doubt that he belonged anywhere like this when it wasn't an actual mission, but the person checking invitations just cooed over Tony and Pepper without giving him and Clint a second look. That was one good thing to wearing a mask, at least. Most people didn't pay any attention to him or know who he was without it. Clint would probably get identified, but Steve was glad he might be able to lurk out of the spotlight. Tony could have it all.

When Steve noticed the framed art up for auction, he knew that he wanted to go look at that before sitting down. Glancing at Clint, he grinned and motioned towards it. "I'm going to check that out," he said, not sure if Clint would want to look with him or hang out with the others. He couldn't ask him to go because Tony and Pepper might notice and think it was strange, but maybe it wasn't unusual for friends attending an event together to actually mingle together as well as with the crowd.

[agent_barton]

It had been a while since Clint had been invited to an event this swanky where he wasn't tailing an operative or trying to steal something from the house safe, but the food was good and the company even better, so Clint leaned back in his chair and relaxed, trying to have a good time.

He'd seen Steve wander off to the auction area, and made a memo to himself to go see if he bid on anything - maybe he could surprise him later. Tony was sitting next to him, that look of false boredom on his face. Clint had figured out by now that Tony was actually taking in everything, all the sights and sounds and conversations being spun around him. Clint leaned over, reaching for the champagne. "How many of these things do you do in a year?" he wondered, refilling his glass.

[playboy_philanthropist]

Tony raised his eyebrows as he took a sip of his champagne. It felt a little weird being at this function after the mission. A bit relaxing, but then a bit not considering the party they had worked while in Uzbekistan. He was definitely going to make use of the pop-up spa later though. But right now he was just going to relax in their reserved seats and take a break from all the people asking about his 'new look' of the close cropped hair and less prominent goatee. He was going to have get Natasha back for this, even if it was very logical to do for the sake of the mission.

"Depends how you define 'these things'," he pointed out with a shrug as he turned his attention to Clint, hooking an arm around the back of the archer's chair. "Events this small? Not that often unless it's a really good cause. We get so many invitations every year. Pepper has a hell of a time picking and choosing, but this seemed like an event Steve would be interested in." He shrugged again as he took another sip of champagne. "Charity events in general, I have no idea. Too many to keep track of." He smirked. "You?"

[agent_barton]

Clint laughed. "Oh yeah, my personal assistant has to decline more of these invitations than I can shakes a stick at. My presence is highly desired at these events, you know." Clint's eyes darted around again when he lost track of where Steve went, but then quickly turned back to Tony. "You thought Steve would like this?" he asked, curious.

Reaching over, he tousled Tony's new short hair. "So, we didn't get a chance to talk much. How did things go?" Clint hadn't heard from Tasha in a while, long enough for him to start worrying but not long enough for him to start suiting up.

[playboy_philanthropist]

"Well, they always need handsome seat-warmers at some events and I'm sure some lady would love to show you off as arm candy," Tony teased back. "Or you could be the entertainment. If they love the repulsor target practice, they got to love the archery even more."

He glanced around when he saw Clint's attention move around the room before brushing it off with a shrug. "He isn't big on the bullying thing and with his religious background it seemed like a good fit." There were the other reasons of course he'd thought Steve would be interested, but that wasn't for public consumption. "He seemed to think you'd be interested too."

Making a face, he batted Clint's hand away. "Hey, none of that. You and Natasha and the short hair." He looked around as he pressed his lips together. "I'm assuming it went as well as most of your missions go. I got the payload taken care of and we took care of most of lackeys, but considering the shit they were trying to build." He shook his head. "She's still checking out leads to find the head of the snake there. She can do that a lot easier without dragging my ass around, even if with her best attempts to un-Stark-ify me."

[agent_barton]

"Arm candy," Clint snorted. "Yeah, I get lots of those calls as well." Tony explained his Steve comment, and Clint understood, thinking that yeah, Steve would be concerned about these kind of events. "I'm not much for people being dickheads either. And I approve of open bars, always."

"Any mission you come home from is a success," Clint told him. "Feels good too, when you get a couple bad guys off the street. Or planet, depending on how bad they are. Good job," Clint told him. "Tasha's tough as a partner. And I'm not sure its possible to completely 'un-Stark-ify you'," Clint laughed, one last ruffle before he returned to his glass. "You do know how to live well," he murmured.

[playboy_philanthropist]

"My friend, you have not seen the tip of the iceberg when it comes to open bars," Tony said with a grin. "Free champagne is nothing compared to the black tie events. Or a Stark event."

He rolled his eyes. "Well yes. I have gone out and fought the good fight before." He made a face. "It just tends to be solo go in, blow shit up, leave sort of thing. This one had its interesting new moments." He reached up and ruffled Clint's hair in retaliation. "She wasn't that bad. But then I wasn't fighting against her."

He finished off his champagne before frowning slightly in thought. "I'm not sure I really know how to live any other way."

[agent_barton]

"I'll have to take your word on that." Clint wasn't ever going to be the type that frequented these events, Avenger or not, so he was happy as a clam to drink Tony's champagne and smile at the pretty people walking around. "It's different when they're two of you. Good in that you have double the eyes and double to presence. Bad because you've got someone else in your mind the entire time, worrying about them."

With he and Natasha, they'd worked together so long so much of it was second-nature. He could focus on his own targets, confident in the knowledge that she could take care of herself. But that didn't mean that he wasn't going to worry if she were partnered with someone else, even if that someone else was Iron Man.

Speaking of being rich... "So, how does one go about buying one of those things over there? The auction pieces?"

[playboy_philanthropist]

"You will get dragged to a Stark event," Tony pointed out. "All of you are. As long as the world isn't ending. Or there's a mission. But you will get to see first hand."

His brow furrowed slightly at what Clint said. He knew worry in battle, but... It wasn't a constant presence. It popped up when there was immediate, unsuspected danger. Right when Rhodey's suit was taken over. Pepper and the bombs. Happy and Pepper in Monaco. But they had all been innocents at the time. The people he actually fought with... They could take care of themselves. Sure there was assessing the situation and helping each other out, but that was tactical, not worrying...

Shaking his head, he focused on the last questions. "Oh, that's easy. It's a silent auction." He turned towards Clint so he could look over the back of his chair and point at one of the tables. "You find something you like, find the sheet with its number and description is on, and write down your name and how much you want to bid. There's probably a minimum bid and increments on there and a 'buy it now' price. Whoever has the highest bid by the closing time wins the item." He shrugged. "You pay and take your new trinket home. Or your date takes it home. Let me tell you, very easy way to get into a girl's pants."

[agent_barton]

"Black-tie missions and alcohol don't mix well," Clint told him, smirking as he looked around the room at the number of same-sex couples around, holding hands and dancing over near the music. It made him wonder what kind of couple he and Steve would be. "Fucks with my aim."

There was something about the way Tony said things that was so genuine and full of bullshit at the same time, it reminded Clint a little of the guys in the carnival, the barkers who drew in the big crowds by promising them the world. "Buying someone art just to get in good with them - I would never use such nefarious means..." But then Clint laughed. Yes he would, and he'd do it tonight, if he could. It would be worth it if he could surprise Steve, to see his face when he got his special gift.

Maybe Clint would try to wander over to the tables later. "Thanks for inviting us to this shin-dog, Stark. It's a nice party, classier than the ones that I'm used to."

[playboy_philanthropist]

"Obviously we need to practice more with that," Tony said with a grin. "Sounds like a date. You, me, a bottle of scotch, and the archery range." He pointed at Clint. "Normal bow and arrows. None of the fancy shit."

Refilling his champagne and topping off Clint's, he shook his head. "Jewelry goes farther. Although also just taking them to an event like this gets you in good," he said with a shrug. Granted back then the name Tony Stark also had a big influence on that, even with his habits with the ladies was very well known. He waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. If there are any organizations or causes that you're big on, we can set you up with more of these. Like I said, we get far too many invites for the time we have."

[agent_barton]

Clint grinned widely. "This reminds me of a terrible story involving a some teenagers, an unwise wager, and a cat. A very lucky cat." Clint hadn't been the smartest kid. "But I'm sure we can manage a good time that doesn't endanger anyone's life. Anytime, man, anytime."

Leaning back, Clint saw the people there, walking by, and he wasn't sure he'd ever be comfortable here. "This isn't my world, Stark. I feel like I'm on a mission, watching everyone, still the spy." Still, it was nice knowing the chance was out there to go to places like this, especially if Steve liked doing the charity thing. "I don't have causes."

[playboy_philanthropist]

Tony laughed as he shook his head. "Let me guess. The cat was the target and you were too drunk to actually hit it." He took a sip of his champagne. "I don't know if adult hindsight would consider any teenage bets wise ones. But just us on the range with no pets around. I think we can manage to not put arrows through each others' heads."

He snorted as he leaned back as well, putting his arm back along the top of Clint's chair. "Sounds like you got the mindset down right. You know, aside from the drinking and enjoying yourself bit." Looking around, he shrugged. "I don't think this event will get as catty, but there are plenty of watching going on. Outbidding rivals on purpose to piss them off, making nice with the right people, making the right promises. Just all depends on your motive."

He looked over at Clint and raised an eyebrow. "Yet you go around saving the world. Don't consider your job a cause?"

[agent_barton]

Clint nodded. "Close. We were doing tequila shots and shooting at shit, and every time someone missed they had to take a shot. The guys were betting me that I couldn't hit the cat." Clint shrugged. "I wasn't trying all that hard. Probably could have hit it if I really wanted, but fuck, it was a cat. Didn't need to die just to entertain my jack-off friends."

Snorting, he finished his glass of bubbly. "I consider it a job. They pay my bills, and that's how it started at least. It isn't like we save the world on a regular basis." But things had changed lately, and what he felt about his job was changing. He gave Tony a look, as if wondering if Tony ever asked himself those same sorts of questions. "What about you? Don't you have enough on your plate? Why not make Iron Man something you toy with on weekends and holidays? Why bother with helping the huddled masses when you could just jet around and have a good time?"

[playboy_philanthropist]

"Which would feed into that 'not liking people being dickheads' cause of yours," Tony teased. "Which really encompasses most of the anti-bullying causes. And a few of the anti-war ones."

He shook his head. "Seems like an odd line of work to get into to pay the bills. And I'm sure that your boss thinks more highly of your missions in terms of world saving." He shrugged as he took a long sip of his champagne before inspecting his glass idly. "I've got a debt to pay and a promise to keep." He snorted. "A miles to go before I sleep."

There was more to it than that of course, but it was the simple answer. Both less personal and more inspiring at the same time.