Dance Floor Throw Down

"Well?"

Walt smiled and nodded. "You're a wonderful dancer, Merida."

"Och... Amurnay," Merida said blushing. "Ah dinnae ken wit ahm doing!"

Walt grinned. "It's fine, lass. With time and practice you'll get it. It's more important that you have fun. I hope you are having fun?"

Merida blushed but nodded grinning. "Aye, ah ahm havin' a grand time! Being 'ere... it's been wonderful! My home before... an then that manky "trash" world were th' pits... but ah like it 'ere!" She gripped his arms tighter. "It really is starting tae feel lik a "home"... ah'm a wee bit afraid tho. Ye'll nae git rid o me?"

Walt pulled her close. "Never ever, lass. Those idiots before that threw you out. It's not supposed to work like that... I'm sorry you went through all of that. But I'm also grateful. I like having you here... and I like making you happy."

Merida blushed and as the music stopped she pushed him away flustered. "Och! Thanks fur th' dance Walt but now I'm a wee bit parched! Ah'll see ye later!"

She scurried away from the confused Walter. "Was it something I said?"

"Yes and no," said a voice behind him and he turned to find Pirotess. She took his hands and they bowed to each other before beginning the next dance. "She's happy to have a home as fine and well suited as this one and understandbly afraid of losing it. You said the right thing... as long as you meant it."

Walt nodded as they glided across the dance floor. "I do. Every word... and you?"

Pirotess gives him a look. "And me what?"

Walt smiled shaking his head. "Never mind. Forget I asked."

Pirotess was quiet for a bit as they moved. For not being an elf, Walt was a surprisingly graceful dancer. Dispite his size he was light on his feet. Her ears twitched. "I'm... happy too," she said quietly. "It may not be the home I'd thought I'd find but... I like it here..."

Walt smiled. "Is that so? That makes me happy to hear it, Pirotess. I like your being here."

Pirotess looked away. "Don't lie to me, hu-"

Walt grabbed her chin and turned her to face him. "I don't lie." He kissed her forehead and pulled her in closer. "I like having you here, Pirotess. I like having you home with me... sharing it together. It makes me happy and knowing that it makes you happy as well makes me even happier."

Pirotess flushed even darker and gripped him tighter laying her head on his chest a moment. "I see..." she murmured before suddenly spinning gracefully away leaving him behind blinking.

Walt shook his head. "I've done it again whatever it was..."

"You're doing fine," Anastasia said smoothly taking her place. "In truth you made them both very happy. You're rather good at this. Training?"

Walt shook his head. "I'm not a "raven" just like you're not a "swallow"."

She nodded. "But we are familiar with and will use those techniques if necessary. Have you done it often?"

Walt shook his head. "Not generally my style. I... it's different. In the field and on a mission. You learn to compartmentalize... everything."

Anastasia nodded. "Yes... even feelings."

Walt nodded too sighing. "Yes... even feelings," he repeated. "But that's work. I don't want to do that with "family" and personal relationships. That's where I draw the line." He saw one of the Snakes whispering to Tony as the song ended and Tony smirked their direction and cued up "Snake Eater". Walt rolled his eye's as they gave him a thumbs-up watching him dancing with the former Cobra operative, Baroness.

She stepped in closer. "Because you want to?"

Walt shook his head. "Because I need to."

She felt him hold her tightly. She could break away easily enough if she wanted to. But it was obvious he didn't want that. She thought about all her interactions with him so far. He knew several of them were quite dangerous, including her... and yet he didn't hold them at length. He drew them closer. Showed and gave her respect that she'd so often been denied even from alies. Treated them, treated her, like a precious friend. "Because that's what you want..." She said softly as she pressed her body to his.

Walt nodded as they danced close together. He swallowed feeling her sexy body against his. "That's what I want."

She smiled. His body was reacting to hers and she... "I see..." she snapped her knee forward towards his groin and he deflected it with his knee. She spun swinging her elbow but he caught her arm and kissed her hand. She ground her ass into his crotch gripping his other arm and tried to pull him into a throw but he rolled with it and pulled her into his arms instead. She felt his hands run up her back to her neck as he looked her in the eyes. They were both smiling. "I think I'd like to try that," she said feeling where they were almost joined at the hip. His erection pressed against her. He desired her... and she... "That's what I want."

Walt nodded. "Alright," he said running his fingers through her dark hair. She was as beautiful as she was dangerous. "Anastasia..."

---

"Is that...?" Tony asked as he switched to Blue Jeans and Bloody Tears.

Snake nodded smirking. "That's dirty dancing and dirty fighting."

"They're a good match," Joy said walking up. Watching the extremely close combat of strikes, grapples and counters disguised as a dance. Several others joined them in watching the two combatants nodding.

Tony shook his head. "You folks are nuts."

"Says the guy still wearing an exosuit to a party thinking he's a Dee Jay," Rhodey said walking by shaking his head sipping his drink.

"Ouch. Did you intend to put a little sting on that one?" Tony asked.

"I'm telling you don't quit your day job," Rhodey answered with a grin pointing at him. "If we're going to have a dance floor brawl kick it up a notch!"

Tony grins. "Ladies and Gentlemen... as if you all didn't get enough action earlier we now enter into the combat portion of tonights entertainment a bit ahead of schedule. If you can dance and fight this one's for you so get your butts on the floor." He pointed at Yang. "I warned you away from destroying the dance floor earlier for exactly this reason. Now you can tear it up. Team ups are allowed but remember nonlethal only and no powers against non powered opponents. Don't get too carried away out there gang. Medics and non-combatants to the sidelines. Mind the referees. Last times winner please get on the dance floor. Paging Dr Banner. You're up!" He cued up Marachi cover of Bloody Tears and has Friday take over on "Battle Mix" lowering his face plate. "Let"s start the free-for-all brawl!"

Walt sighed. "You've done it now, Ana!"

She noted he was grinning though... and he'd given her a nickname. "You're kidding me?"

Walt grinned. "Nope... it's a 3S tradition!" He pulled her out of the way of a Spider-Man swing as he caught a bottle. "Thanks, Pete! Good luck out there!"

"Thanks Mr Sta-urk!" Says Peter Parker as he dodges a blast. Walt takes a slug of the top shelf liqour and passes her the bottle as he sees Steve and Peggy heading their way. "Team up? Gotta warn you she's going to kick- Geez Ana!" He blocks her swing.

Anastasia grinned. "Nope." She looks over her shoulder. "Wait your turn or butting in?"

Steve shrugged and looked at Peggy. Peggy nodded. "Butting in!" She said as she squared off with Anastasia trading blows.

"You heard the lady," Steve Roger's said as Walt tossed him the bottle.

Walt chuckled nodding. "No hard feelings about last time?"

Steve finished the bottle. "You got lucky last time."

Walt shook his head. "Funny. I didn't feel so lucky when Banner and Thor set me up."

Steve laughed. "Well this times gonna be different!" He charged at Walt swinging only to get taken out by Banner as he swats him away. "Hey Walt," said Bruce. "Figured we might as well get right to it after the way last time went so, uh-what?!"

Ilulu throws Banner in the same direction he just flicked Steve. "Not this time! You want Walt you gotta get past me! I been waiting all morning for this!" She goes flying off after them giggling.

Walt sighs seeing Peggy and Anastasia happily trading blows. Curie is already tending some combatants. Some of the ladies like Raven have joined with the referees. A pink grenade canister flies by as Nora joins his side with Pyrrha and Penny. "I hope that's-"

"Just smoke! Makes it interesting!" Nora laughed happily. "Hell of a party! Just like the wedding! Wheee!" She charges into the pink smoke shrouded fray. "Home team assemble!"

"What do you want do Walt?" Pyrrha asks as they watch Steve Rogers helps Peggy up only for Steve to turn into Neo and head butt Peggy, knocking her out. Joy drags her and Anastasia away as Neo skipped over smiling.

"We are combat ready!" Penny states.

Walt shrugged and grinned back at the ladies as the rest who wanted to throw down joined them and Friday cued up H.T. from Trigun. "Might as well have fun then... let's do this!" And they rushed into battle after Nora.

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Nora Valkyrie Yang Xiao Long Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Zwei Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Rachel "Raven" Roth Manami "La Brava" Aiba Tsuyu "Froppy" Asui Haruhime Sanjouno Anastasia "The Baroness" Cisarovna/DeCobray Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress Serana Mission Vao Curie Ada PAM KL-E-O Merida Gwen "Gwenom" Stacy Jubilation "Jubilee" Lee and Jennifer "She-Hulk" Walters

Will Return In

TBD

Coming Soon]